July 31st 2017 - Kedleston Hall

Having missed Kedleston Hall the other day we were determined to visit and today it was open. This is a spectacular 18th century mansion and the most opulent of all the houses we have seen. It was designed by famous architect Richard Adam as a house to rival Chatsworth for Sir Nathaniel Curzon in 1765. It was never meant to be a family home but a canvas on which to display the finest paintings, sculpture and furniture.

The floor in the Marble Hall dates back to the 1760s and its condition is deteriorating. The pillars were originally smooth but I can't remember when they were changed to this format.

I loved the way the decorative plaster was made to hold the paintings.

I would really love one of these 18th century Reading Chairs. It would be so comfortable and so conducive to concentration!

This is an absolutely magnificent desk and in great condition. To the left is a drawer that pulls out the length of the desk which means that the top drawers at the top are fake. I loved it!

In this formal dining room the paintings are all connected to the theme of food.

This was a wonderful exhibit - the dress is 115 years old and it looks fantastic. The first time it was worn was to the Delhi Durbar in 1903 to celebrate the 1902 coronation of King Edward VII. It was worn by Lady Mary Curzon wife of the viceroy Lord Curzon who owned Kedleston Hall.

The emerald like eye of each plume is set with iridescent green beetle wings and the embroidery is gold and silver. It must have been horrendously heavy to wear! The dress was later altered to reflect the change in fashion

We then went for a 2-3km walk in the grounds.

We then visited the Church in the grounds.

We thoroughly enjoyed the visit and then went to Newark to collect Stephen who was working that day in Carol's museum. The heavens opened as we wandered Newark but we managed to get to the car for shelter before we were drenched.

Tomorrow home for a day before our 3 French guests arrive!

July 30th 2017 - Eyam Palgue Village

Stephen was working but Carol joined us on a visit to Eyam the Plague Village. Set in the heart of Derbyshire's Peak District, the village of Eyam (pronounced Eam as in stream) will forever be associated with the bubonic plage which arrived in the village via a parcel of cloth from London delivered to the local tailor, George Viccars. Because the cloth was damp the tailor hung it out in front of the fire to dry, thus releasing the rat fleas that are now known to carry bubonic plague. On the 7th of September 1665 George Viccars, the first plague victim, died of a raging fever. Other victims followed and the disease spread rapidly during the autumn. At least 260 villagers died of the plague in the 14 months that it raged in Eyam.

Below is a really cute cottage garden - a lot of frivolity in the 21st century in a cottage that was devasted by plague in the 17th.

Eyam Parish Church. During the plague William Mompesson was Rector of this church. His wife, Catherine, died on August 25th 1666 after insisting on remaining behind while their children were sent to safety.

The magnificent 20th century stained glass Plague window in the church which tells the story of the plague and commemorates the victims.
















Following lunch in a local very nice cafe with outside seating where we all had Derbyshire oatcakes - an oatmeal pancake - we visited Eyam Hall. Eyam Hall was built in 1672, just 6 years after the plague. It is a wonderfully unspoilt example of a grit stone Jacobean Manor house. It has been the home of the Wright family for 11 generations. It has undergone various renovations in order to modernise it and fit it to more modern needs.

Dining Room still used by the Wright Family up to 3 years ago.

We were fortunate to see Eyam Hall as it is soon no longer to be a National Trust property. We had a very interesting visit to the village and the hall and the scenery on the journey was very nice.