At the south end of our lower terrace is a stone pool filled by a water spout. The spout, which is said to be based on one at Viterbo in Italy, is of carved stone, as seen in this photograph, and it was restored to working order a few years ago when we stopped the pool from leaking. My parents had kept it empty deliberately, recognising the risk to visitors, but we prefer to have it filled by the spout but discreetly fenced off.

Aesthetic considerations apart, the pool seems to attract visitors with money to spare. Soon after the pool was first filled, we were surprised to find that visitors were throwing money into the water, perhaps making a wish in the process. As the bottom of the pool every year, the coins are easily visible. They are mostly 1p and 2p pieces, but occasionally the odd 50p or even a £1 coin finds its way to the bottom.

At the end of the season, we drain the pool and clean it out. The coins get shovelled into buckets with the mud that also inevitably finds its way there. The contents are washed and sieved, and the money is given to St John the Baptist Church in Eastnor. Although the counting process is laborious, and we can’t do it by weight as the occasional foreign coin appears, the result is worth waiting for. Last year, we gave £122.38 to the Church, for which the PCC were very grateful. JH-B 5th April ‘10

One happy couple who started their newly married life together this New Year are Bianca and Baz. They had chosen to get married on 31 December 2009 and we were delighted when they selected Eastnor Castle as their romantic wedding venue.

All wedding days are special but theirs was perhaps one of the most special and stunning you could imagine. The wedding ceremony was held in the Eastnor church of St John The Baptist with a guard of honour provided by the Royal Marines and the wedding rings were delivered in flight down the aisle by a beautiful owl. After the ceremony the happy couple and their guests proceeded to the Castle where they enjoyed their wedding breakfast in the sumptuous surroundings of the Great Hall. 

Share in their wedding joy and watch their Eastnor Castle wedding video below on YouTube - it’s stunning!

As we write this post, New Year’s Eve 2010 is still available at Eastnor Castle. So if you would like an unforgettable, romantic wedding on one of the most special days of the year, please speak to Becky Johnson our Wedding Co-ordinator on 01531 633160.