The presence of a pair of cannon at your front door is a sure sign that you have achieved your place in British society; either that or you've made a mint in the scrap metal business.
Although it is frowned upon by those in authority, they are an excellent means of ridding your domain of Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, door-to-door salesman, purveyors of lucky white heather and any of the other myriad of minor nuisances that would otherwise spoil a day under an oak tree with a large gin and a copy of the Times.
Where an invasion of peasants is concerned, they should only be fired at the Great Unwashed after a suitable verbal or visual warning. Any common expletive will do, accompanied by descriptive phrases describing parenthood and/or place of birth. The waving of fists or a shotgun (if you have one handy) can also count as an indication that you mean business and that a whiff of grapeshot is imminent.
Dunstall House is typical of the more upmarket Cotswold town dwelling, elegantly proportioned and strategically sited at a junction. It was built in the 17th century and refronted in the 18th, no doubt as a result of a visit from a make-over guru from London. It is constructed from the oolitic limestone commonly used for buildings in this part of Gloucestershire.
When I was a lad, this building was the nurses' home for the local hospital, a haunt of caped and capped angels of mercy, in sensible shoes.
9 comments:
I take it your parties are by invitation only? And what fate awaits the visitors to the back door? Is it like the defence of Singapore, all cannons pointed to sea?
Might just asked Mum is she know this one, she was a nurse in England!!
I like the cannons, I just recently learned what a brass monkey is/was.
Thanks, Dave... now Tom thinks we need a pair of cannons guarding our front door. :-(
Oh my god, I totally want a pair of cannons at my front door! That's fierce!
These are great photos, it makes me really, really, really want to visit your part of the world.
I love it.
J Cosmo - the house with the cannons belongs to the National Trust - they repel the plebs at all orifices except when they can take money from them.
Hannelie - let me know although it's in a very small town of about 13,000 inhabitants.
Is there an opportunity to set up a business importing cannon to WA - I've got a brother in South Perth who might be game?
Susan - I'll send Tom a pair over, if I can find some - shipping might be a bit pricy, though. Perhaps we can get them in polystyrene.
Josephine - you'll have to do it. The cannon were at a house in Devon but there are lot's of interesting bits of Britain to visit which look good when the sun's out. I'll try and find some images to tempt you with.
Thank you for the thought, Dave. I'm pretty sure polystyrene would make for nice decoration, but I don't think they would be very useful for hurling actual cannon balls across the street at the neighbor's house. :-( After we get the moat dug and the drawbridge installed, maybe Tom can look further into finding some real cannons.
Oh really Dave, Whow a bro in S-Perth? Have you been here yet?
Gotta meet you and Pixie, my hubby Brian use to be a photographer so you guys will have heaps to talk about and Pixie and I can go bag shopping etc etc
Will see Mum tomorrow and hope to remember to ask her, I'm off to university so we will pass each other (play tag), she's babysitting.
Importing cannons, mmmhhh!
Hi Hannelie. Yes, my brother Peter lives in Perth although he may be returning home eventually.
Visited there a few years ago but only briefly - enough time to sample Freemantle and the India Tea House. Unfortunately it rained a bit!
Did get in a great trip to Margaret River and Albany though.
Not sure if we will return as there are too many places in Oz still to visit, particularly Adelaide and Tasmania and a return to southern Queensland. We plan to be in Sydney again year with a possible third visit to NZ.
Post a Comment