On the way up to the Lakes to go sailing the other week, I stopped off at
Speke Hall in Liverpool. It's a bizarre sight. You approach it off the motorway, go past an industrial estate, the John Lennon Airport and then suddenly you're confronted by an exquisite Tudor building, the like of which I've never seen before. It's incongruous to say the least. A breath-taking building, it's apparently one of the most famous Tudor houses in England. It was originally built in 1530 and is surprisingly easy to get around in a wheelchair too: the whole of the ground floor is accessible. You get to peer at the intricate carving, Jacobean plasterwork and fabulous kitchen. And to get round the impossibility of reaching the upper floors, the staff cleverly produce a large book of photographs so you can see what's there. The grounds are spacious and the cafe serves a variety of locally inspired dishes. I know I'm sounding a bit like a tourist brochure, but I was taken aback by the place. I'd never heard of it, had no expectations, was lulled into a false sense of unexcitement by the approach and was therefore particularly enchanted. If you're ever passing vaguely nearby on the M6, make a detour. It's not far off the motorway, and it's well worth the journey.
