The December London Trip

I have to teach a program in England for the Tatas, says MP in early fall.

I’d love to go with you, I said. It would be fun to wander around London – we haven’t been there in more than ten years and that last time was just in transit.

When I heard that he could only go for two days, I balked at the thought of spending on such a short trip. But encouraged by both MP and Jenie, I swapped some frequent flier miles for my ticket.

I started making plans for London. I was especially excited about Tate Modern that Jenie had told me not to miss. It didn’t exist the last time we were in London.

Except, MP soon found out that the program was going to be in Birmingham and not in London.

No matter. I noticed that Birmingham was really close and well connected by trains to Stratford-upon-Avon, the Coventry Cathedral and the Warwick Castle. So there was plenty to do.

I also found that Birmingham was a town worth exploring in itself. I noted a few restaurants that we could try on the two days that we’d be there.

Finally, three days before our trip, MP remembered to send me the details of the arrangements that were made for our stay in Birmingham.

Turns out that the program was not being taught in Birmingham either but at Ashorne Hill – an old English manor set in rural Warwickshire, about twenty five kilometers south of Birmingham airport.


Never mind. How often does one get to stay in a historic 12th century manor that was originally a part of the even older Manor of Newbold that is mentioned in the Domesday Book?


The ownership of the manor has passed through several hands over the centuries including the Earl of Warwick in the 18th century and a Chicago millionaire in the late 1890’s. In its current form, it is a training facility and conference center set on thirty five acres with the remaining almost three hundred acres rented to local farmers for grazing. A lot of the interior from the 1890’s has been preserved as have been some of the blue bricks in the centre front of the building from even before that time.

After a relaxed day and a half at the remote, rural, historic site, I did get to spend a day in London where I did get to see Tate Modern and catch a play before meeting MP at the airport for dinner. We caught the early morning flight back the next day.