I keep a list of places that I must visit: that list just got longer! I'm adding Calke Abbey. I know I'm probably the last one on the boat for this one, but I've just discovered it through Teen Angster who was reposting it from Hello Mr. Fox (it's a-going viral, y'all!). It's just so, so perfect I couldn't resist adding to my blog as well.
Calke Abbey is near Ticknall, Derbyshire, England (those names always sound so romantic to my American ears). It was built between 1701 and 1704 by Sir John Harpur, the 4th baronet of his family. I'm not even sure what that means! The estate was passed down through the family, all the while suffering from neglect and various stages of abandonment. When the house was handed over to the National Trust in the 1980s, the estate had remained untouched since the 1880s! Rather than begin restoration, the Trust preserved the remains as an example of a country house in decay, halting the deterioration but not reversing it.
I imagine this is sort of like what Grey Gardens would have been like if someone had stepped in and preserved it before it went into total disrepair and ruin. Only on a MUCH grander scale.
23 comments:
WOW!!! SUCH beautiful pictures, I want to live there!!!
From Carys of La Ville Inconnue
This is so amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Oh yes I remember Hannah's posting of this place. It's what dreams are made of! I hope to go someday.
Oh, my! Heavenly!
i think MY list of travel destinations just got longer!
thanks for sharing, i can always use a good reason to jump over to england, the joys of living in europe is that these treasures aren't so far as they used to be
kfar.blogspot.com
I was so confused when I saw this on my google reader! Glad you like them :)
oh wow all of those butterflies. i am always fascinated by them, i have 2 pinned butterflies in a frame.
Wowza! What a great step back in time!
I saw these on her blog a few months ago and fell in love. It looks like a fabulous and haunting place. I want to live there!
This sounds amazing!! I will try and visit it this summer :)
P.S. A Baronet is a British nobleman, but quite a low ranking one, so they just own a lot of land and get given a beautiful house! I think the title was generally passed down in the family too.
That's amazing! I have to visit it this summer when I'm in England. Now I really really want to go there. What other beautiful places are on your list?
cool! I've been to several well-preserved country estates in England but this look awesome.
It's wonderful! You know, if you ever come to England you'll discover that the National Trust has a whole bevy of these beauties in its ownership. Worth considering a visit..? :P xx
got some creative furnitures here, love them, it's just talented
My gosh! This place looks amazing. I want to one day just go to England and never come back and live in the countryside. To dream.
Great site. A lot of useful information here. I’m sending it to some friends! I invite you to see my post, I hope you will find interesting too.
I love your pictures and your blog !
I saw a documentary on this place a while ago. Amazing!!!!! I think it was on PBS.
I went here a long while back.
It's so strange and so beautiful.
Beautiful, very ecclectic, Count me in....
This is why I try to check in once a week. Always something great to look at and ponder. Thanks!
Beautiful photos.
oooo...taxidermy
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