Peak District continues
After a cool and wet weekend the weather improved on Tuesdsy and we drove to Haddon Hall, a Tudor residence not far from here. Our prior reading mentioned the 15th century gardens and pastures which had not been developed over the centuries and were undergoing some ecological research. This interested us, but sadly when we got there were informed that only the house and adjacent gardens were open to the public!! It's not NT property, but it's unusual residential history warranted a visit. Settled originally by a Norman family, the Vernons and lived in up to Tudor times it is considered one of the best-preserved and complete houses of the Tudor period. It was unlived in (only caretakers were present) for 200 years and thus did not undergo any modernisation or refurbishments and therefore retains the original Tudor interior of oak panelled walls, lead light windows and enormous stone fireplaces. The stone floors are well trodden and still intact.
Haddon Hall.
Oak panelled walls.
No possums live in this garden!!
Later in the week we visited Kedleston Hall, a NT property owned by the Curzon family, which not only presented us with a magnificent property, but miles of walks through woods and pasture. An interfeature of this manor was the great Hall adorned by pillars made from local alabaster, assembled vertically in 3 sections. The original owners were inspired by Italianate and Roman architecture, hence the Roman classical statues in the servants entry hall and the Palladian pillars at the entrance and in the great hall.
Kedleston hall.
Alabaster pillars in the great hall - intended to impress!!
The roof modled on the pantheum.
We enjoyed our 8km walk around the parkland and woods.
A wee rest at the halfway mark!!
Open landscape on the route.
