To continue the theme of 1920s opulence, off to visit a grand house, built on a country estate. The country estate is now on the fringes of the Greater Detroit area and belongs to Oakland University.

One of the original Detroit car firms was Dodge, founded by the Dodge brothers before the First World War. Originally they made parts for other manufacturers but switched to making their own just before the war. John Dodge, one of the founders, married his secretary, Mathilda Rausch. When he and his brother both died in the Spanish Flu outbreak in 1920, she was left the richest woman in the country. She married Alfred Wilson, a lumber baron and the son of her pastor at church. In 1929, to get away from the smoke and noise in downtown Detroit, they bought a farm and set about building a new and up to date house. They decided they wanted something in Tudor Revival so they went to the UK, looking round all the Tudor buildings they could find. They took their architect with them so that he could measure and sketch the things they wanted copies of.

On her husband’s death, Mathilda gave 1000 acres of the estate to found a university. On her death, she bequeathed the house and the remaining 400 acres. The house is now used to weddings and conferences as well as having visitors.

As Sherry was at work, I had gone to Measowbrook by taxi. I was trying to find out how to access the Internet to call Uber on my way back when two nice ladies said they’d give me a lift – as long as I was happy to go to the Coney Island for ice cream on the way. Happy?