Sentimental Journey

Statues gaze wistfully across the gardens... lichen lingering on the masterfully carved stonework.

Georgian architecture and gardens were largely inspired by the classical art and sculpture encountered during Grand Tours of Europe which became a popular right of passage of young men of ‘sufficient means and rank’ in the 18th and early 19th century. A number of writers at the time immortalised their Grand Tour experiences by publishing books about their adventures and one such author was Laurence Sterne, whose novel, A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy, became critically acclaimed. Sadly it was published just 19 days before his death in 1768.

Sterne’s writing gives much inspiration to the Broken Clock journey and the windfall apples in our recipe are from his idyllic country garden at Shandy Hall in Coxwold, North Yorkshire.