Jane Dallaway
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  • There has been "A breakthrough in toasting innovation"

    19 September 2026

    Well thank goodness for that! But what a phrase that is!

    Screenshot of The Knowledge newsletter answer describing Sage's Eye Q colour-sensing toaster as 'a breakthrough in toasting innovation'

    Spotted in The Knowledge


  • Today's second walk: Dunham Massey

    9 September 2026

    Dunham Massey's red brick house seen across the still lake, framed by overhanging oak branches

    One day, two National Trust sites. This time Dunham Massey.

    A fallow deer grazing close to the path in Dunham Massey's deer park, with more deer grazing among trees behind

    This is a larger site than Speke Hall with a house, gardens and deer park. And with plenty of deer in it to excite the furry one. Especially the deer who ventured into the area around the buildings.

    The Dunham Massey orangery, a brick building with tall arched windows, seen from the lawn with a lily pond in front

    The gardens were lovely. The area around the orangery and the building itself were particularly pleasing. It’s a place with plenty of places to stop and stare.

    A wide lawn bordered by a flowering shrub border, with Dunham Massey's red brick house visible in the background


  • Today's walk: Speke Hall

    9 September 2026

    Speke Hall's black and white timber-framed facade with a Japanese maple in autumn colour

    A wide lawn bordered by mature trees and flower beds in the grounds of Speke Hall

    Having picked up this year’s Pooch Passport on Saturday at Stourhead we took a look to see what was near our holiday spot. The nearest was Speke Hall. Not a big estate but really quite cute.

    Black and white timber-framed Speke Hall seen from the approach path over the old moat, with a tree either side

    Side view of Speke Hall's black and white timber-framed gables across the lawn

    I enjoyed that the black and white design on the hall wasn’t the same on all the panels. It made me think of blackwork.

    Sandstone entrance to Speke's Volumes secondhand bookshop, with a black National Trust banner and books visible through the open door

    And I loved the name of the secondhand bookshop!