Barmoor Castle, now the center of a caravan park.  Go to North of the Tyne for more pictures.

The recent passing of Joan Castle, the American actress married to William Reresby Sitwell, a distant cousin of Sir George and Lady Ida Sitwell, drew my attention to the state of affairs at Barmoor Castle, where Joan and William were the final residents.  Now in ruins, I think you might agree that there are sometimes worse fates in store for the English country house than the wrecking ball.  Or possibly not.  It is all a question of perspective. 

Still, I know how many of you enjoy stories about Hollywood actresses, and I think Joan qualifies.  Speaking of actresses, last night I was reading Barbara Skelton's memoir Tears Before Bedtime (London, Hamish Hamilton Ltd. 1987) in which she quotes Zsa Zsa Gabor: "A woman who has never been hit by a man has never been loved."  I don't know who that says more about, Barbara or Zsa Zsa, but if someone could please explain to me why any woman would marry Cyril Connolly, I would be much obliged.  I have read Barbara's account of her marriage to him and I remain mystified. 

By the way, I have added The Persephone Post to my list of favorites and I encourage you to visit their book shop.  Beautiful re-issues of wonderful books.  I have just ordered Lytton Strachey's niece Julia Strachey's Cheerful Weather for the Wedding, first published in 1932.  '[A] brilliant, bittersweet upstairs-downstairs comedy' according to Shena Mackay in the Guardian.  As you can imagine, I can't wait for it to arrive.