Families queued to get into calke abbey, in ticknall, yesterday, saturday, march 21, and people enjoyed picnics at the parkland while it was open free of charge. The chancellor of the exchequer, nigel lawson, then passed it to the national trust. They have sured it up and made it safe but otherwise it is a glimpse back into our history. Dale abbey, also known as the abbey of stanley park, was a religious house, close to ilkeston in derbyshire. A sacred site founded in the early 12th century, calke abbey was established by richard, 2nd earl of chester, a wealthy landowner. Jun 09, 2014 this week, id like to draw your attention to a twoweek book conservation in action project at calke abbey. Calke abbey is built on the site, and incorporates some of the remains, of a twelfth century augustinian priory that continued in religious ownership until 1538. We brought over a collection as they came into flower and returned them when we had finished with them, just like a library book. When he was a child sir harry harpur, of calke abbey, ordered a groom to put down a. Buy calke abbey national trust guidebooks by national trust isbn. National trust calke abbey, ticknall, united kingdom. Initially, an independent community dedicated to saint giles, little is known of the uses of calke priory during the later medieval period. Calke abbey is a grade i listed country house near ticknall, derbyshire, england, in the care of the charitable national trust.
Calke abbey derbyshire a hidden house revealed national trust colvin, howard on. However, very little is known about the servants who were instrumental in the running of the house down through the decades. In the heart of south derbyshire, calke abbey is a great place to visit. If you love history as much as we do and would like to help us preserve. Servants romance is just one amazing story of life below stairs at. Calke priory only lasted a few years as the canons moved to nearby repton. Humankind at calke abbey to mark the 200th anniversary of the death of henry harpur, the isolated baronet, calke abbey explores stories of loneliness and isolation, kindness and compassion, past and present. It is best used either on its own on both walls and woodwork, or with a darker neutral like old white to enhance its deep sage notes.
The architecture of calke abbey is interesting both as a fine example of. An entry into a book found in the record office says she entered the. We are proud of our partnership with helen and sally at honeysuckle and castle who have worked very hard over the last year to bring you bespoke wedding packages in the stunning setting our of estate. Calke abbeys place in racing history is not well known. Life in a baroque home art and design the guardian. Hilda sold half of her fathers natural history collection, as well as some books.
Known as the unstately house, calke abbey is a house with a difference. The family, the harpurcrewes, never rose above the rank of baronet, but at one time mixed with the greatest in the land. Calke abbey with peeling paintwork and overgrown courtyards. An almost unknown house and large estate had fallen into such a state of decay that it called for a new, and sometimes controversial, approach to conservation, once the battle to save them for the nation had been won. This rich and traditional green is a cleaned version of a colour originally found in the breakfast room at calke abbey. Ticknalls calke abbey inspires fiction writers new book.
The exhibits are nicely set out, offering the visitor a glimpse into the world of the calke through the ages. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you. Calke abbey national trust guidebooks paperback october 1, 2006. We are creating a new page in the calke abbey history book this week. Its ruins are located at the village of dale abbey, which is named after it. The house and stables are little restored, with many abandoned areas vividly portraying a period in the 20th century when numerous country houses did not survive to tell their story. Calke abbey ticknall 2020 all you need to know before you.
Calke abbey is closed to help restrict the spread of coronavirus. This illustrated book traces the history of the building from medieval times, the fortunes of the harpur family that have lived at calke since 1622, and the creation of the park and estate. Calke abbey closes its gardens as coronavirus fears increase. The name was given to the house in 1808 nearly 300 years after it stopped being used for religious purposes. Calke abbey is by far a treat for adults and kids alike, my family and i spent the. Calke abbey is a run down stately home that is now owned by the national trust in the uk. The national trust cares for the finest collection of historic buildings, gardens, parks, landscape and coastline in the world. Jan 06, 2018 much has gone on record about the history of south derbyshires famous calke abbey and the harpurcrewe family who owned the mansion for 300 years until it passed to the national trust in 1985. The old village of tichenhalle is mentioned in the domesday book, and probably existed from anglosaxon times. Calke abbey volunteer and family history enthusiast karen kreft recently. This garden book d2375eg4 dates from 1811, and it lists what each gardener.
Calke abbey ticknall 2020 all you need to know before. When calke abbey in derbyshire was taken over by the national trust in 1985, it captured popular imagination as the house where time had stood still. Servants romance is just one amazing story of life below. Learn the history of the gardeners bothy, one of many fascinating garden buildings at calke abbey.
Calke abbey was never actually an abbey but the site was home to an augustine priory, founded by the 2nd earl of chester, richard davranches around 1115. Every thursday afternoon our preservation volunteers diligently clean items from collection d2375, the archive from calke abbey. Calke abbey volunteer and family history enthusiast karen kreft recently revealed the results of months of work after trawling through local census. A baroque mansion situated near derby, calke abbeys construction began in. Never actually an abbey, it is a manor house in ticknall, derbyshire which, until 1985, belonged to the often. Mar 22, 2020 families queued to get into calke abbey, in ticknall, yesterday, saturday, march 21, and people enjoyed picnics at the parkland while it was open free of charge. It is particularly suitable for smaller rooms and studies due to its dark and masculine feel. People first came to live at calke in the 12th century as part of a small religious community, attracted by the secluded forest and good water supply. Book conservation fortnight at calke abbey behind the spines. Calke abbey derbyshire a hidden house revealed national. The present building, named calke abbey in 1808, was never actually an abbey, but is a baroque mansion built between 1701 and 1704 the house was owned by the harpur family. Calke abbey is a grade i listed country house near ticknall, derbyshire, england, in the care of the charitable national trust the site was an augustinian priory from the 12th century until its dissolution by henry viii. Authoritative texts and superb illustrations illuminate the history of the place and tell the.
Ticknall was an estate village to calke abbey until late in the 20th century. Library conservator and special advisor for historic libraries in the national trust, caroline bendix and her team are at work in the library at calke. Calke abbey closes its gardens as coronavirus fears. With peeling paintwork and overgrown courtyards, calke abbey tells the story of the dramatic decline of a country house estate.
The exterior is unadorned, almost plain, and the interior houses a varied collection not of fine furniture and objets dart, as you might expect, but of stuffed birds, mammals, fossils, and other natural history oddments gathered by a succession of eccentric owners. Calke abbey captured the imagination of the country when its plight was revealed in the 1980s. Calke abbey stands on the site of a medieval religious house. Step back in time at calke abbey in derbyshire and discover the people and. The nt has preserved this vast mansion as it was when it was vacated. For the first time we are launching as a magnificent wedding venue. Its current entity was largely built in 1701 to reflect the rise in fortune and power during the 17th century of the harpur family, who had taken ownership by about 1620.
Calke abbey has the only original auricula theatre in the country. Controversy over national trust reenactment policy world. Little restored, the house contains the spectacular natural history collection of. Calke abbey is a grade i listed country house near ticknall, derbyshire, england, in the care of. Calke abbey is by far a treat for adults and kids alike, my family and i spent the whole day visiting the house with fascinating history, wonderful gardens and it usually has some offering with a bar. Jul 31, 2009 set on the site of an augustinian priory, calke abbey was never actually an abbey. Well be continuing to share nature, beauty and history and are on hand to help if youve got a question at national trust in the midlands. Calke abbey house was built in baroque classical style for sir john harpur in 17011703. See more ideas about derbyshire, taxidermy decor and bird taxidermy. Discover how calke abbey has been shaped over the years by the lives and interests of the family who lived here. It is kept in the state that it was in when handed over to the nt and so visitors are treated to a glimpse of its former glories. Calke abbey is a grade i listed country house lying about 9 miles east of burton on trent and is a national trust property.
Jessica colletts young adult fantasy adventure story is based upon calke abbey, near ticknall, and is entitled the girl in the abbey. Calke abbey derbyshire a hidden house revealed national trust. The site was an augustinian priory from the 12th century until its dissolution by henry viii. The whistling ghost of calke abbey my haunted life too. Feb 23, 2019 calke abbey volunteer and family history enthusiast karen kreft recently revealed the results of months of work after trawling through local census records in derby in a bid to unearth the stories. Posts about calke abbey written by lien gyles, mark smith, and becky, archivist. With peeling paintwork and overgrown courtyards calke abbey tells the story of the dramatic decline of a country house estate. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Its foundation legend portrays it as developing from a hermitage, probably in the early 12th century. An almost unknown house and large estate had fallen into such a state of decay that it called for a new, and sometimes controversial, approach to conservation, once the battle to save them for the. Its famous and wellrespected series of guidebooks provides the essential companion to your visit and a lasting souvenir of the experience. Mosley married hilda, the eldest daughter of sir vauncey harpur crewe, 10th and last baronet, and a large number of mosleys books and those of his family are now in the bookstores at calke. It was acquired in 1985 when the owners gave it to the exchequer in lieu taxes and death duties of about.
The present building, named calke abbey in 1808, was never actually an abbey, but is a baroque mansion built between 1701. After several false starts, it was finally constituted as. The national trust cares for the finest collection of historic b. It was built on the site of a tudor building, which in turn had been built on the site of a medieval priory. For decades the calke gardeners worked with a nursery who would supply us with the auriculas to stock the theatre. The history of calke abbey, in north derbyshire, is a fascinating one, and not one that we see very often. Mar 01, 2000 buy calke abbey national trust guidebooks by national trust isbn. The national trust calls calke abbey the most unstately home you have ever seen.