Ruud Streefkerk

Looking for old trees in England, we ended up on a National Trust Estate near Colyton. It’s one of the most important mansions that survived from the Middle Ages. It was built around 1380 and expanded at the end of the 16th century (and partially demolished in 1785). Nevertheless, much of the original 14th-century house was preserved. For example, the Will of William Bonville, the original builder, dating from 1407, states: 'ma salle' (my hall), 'ma chambre' (my room), 'panetry' (the pantry for bread preparation), 'botellie' (for storage of wine), 'cusyne' (kitchen) and 'pestrine' (the pâtisserie). In 'ma salle', the main hall, the huge fireplace survived, which covers almost the entire width of the room and is 10 feet deep. This fireplace is said to be the largest existing Medieval fireplace in Britain, with a span of 24 feet. But we came for the centuries-old trees that grow here.