A sunny weekend visit to Attingham Park furnished me with much inspiration – marble statues, curious clocks, intricate mythologies, a verdant aspidistra, mechanisms and bees and anecdotes. These old houses are full of stories waiting to be (re)told by bored writers.

The ornamentation of the interior is mirrored by the wonderful profusion of the grounds. Also, Attingham houses a great many paintings by Angelica Kauffman, who is a favourite of mine.