Chiltern Hills

A rather spectacular part of southern England. The Chiltern Hills form a chalk escarpment in South East England. They are known locally as "the Chilterns". Expensive views and houses are dotted through this part of Buckinghamshire. 

A very pleasant morning in Great Missenden before "wandering" through the hills to High Wycombe. More shopping and then back to the Manor House, Hughenden. 

Hughenden is famous for being the residence 19th century Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, who lived here from 1848 to 1881. 

Disraeli statue dominates the entrance porch at Hughenden.

View of the garden from an upstairs room. 

Meissen porcelain at Hughenden.

It also doubled as a secret WWII map making centre, critical to the air war raging across Europe. Second World War rooms in the cellars have interactive exhibits and eye-witness accounts. The wartime displays in the ice house bunker explains why Hughenden was high on Hitler's hit list. 

A small sample of the potted plants ready for planting out.

A most interesting day - and full of sunshine! We later travelled down to Cookham for the rest of the day and our overnight stop. Traffic a little horrendous - it is, after all, the start of the bank holiday weekend.