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!