Day 2 ~ 99.08.24 ~ Sandon
House
The Don and Kathy Mitchell Residence
The rolling farmlands and the abundance of combines and
other farm equipment [1] on the road to the Mitchell family's home, Sandon
House, served as a reminder that farmers are still the backbone of the
area -- but it also reminded me that few people today will ever experience
the luxury of country living.
The Mitchells -- Don and Kathy with daughters Sarah
and Kate, and son James -- moved into Sandon House over twenty years ago.
Don found, while clearing out the stables, a tube with a bright orange
box kite inside. Fortunately, through curiosity, he did not throw out this
unusual item. Some years later the previous occupant of the house called
by and he explained that the kite was from the Lancaster that had crashed
in the village. The caller was Doctor Bocking, one of the first on the
scene of the crash, and he had done his best to help the men, but sadly,
to no avail.
We turned into the entrance to Sandon House [1], drove
up to the aforementioned stable [2], which now serves as a garage for Don's
vintage Triumph [3], and soon after I had my first look at the strange
remnant from the Lancaster [4] which had triggered the extraordinary sequence
of events which brought my mother and me to England.
Sandon House is a huge, multi-storied, vine covered
brick home [5] which Don and Kathy [6] have decorated with exquisite taste.
The view from the terrace [7] overlooks lush sprawling grounds [8] -- complete
with tennis court.
The Mitchells' interest in historical artifacts and
travel is in evidence everywhere -- inside and outside the house. A garden
shelter even houses ancient handcrafted wood and stone parts from a long-demolished
local mill [9].