Gawthorpe Hall

The last time we were in England we visited Gawthorpe Hall.  We were disappointed to find it was closed due to renovations.  We had checked online and it had made no mention of this on the National Trust site. They are really good at giving times open at certain times of the year and such.  We enjoyed viewing the outside then, but wanted to explore the inside, so we traveled to check it out again.

If you are traveling to England, be sure to pack your brolly (umbrella) as a shower can pop up at any time.  There is a reason it's so green there!  We were happy to see that the outside of Gawthorpe had been cleaned.  Here is a photo of the outside that I took in 2015.

2015

As you can tell it needed a good cleaning.  This is how it looked when we went back.

2017

Gawthorpe Hall was the home of the Shuttleworth family for over 400 years. It had its beginnings as a Pele Tower.  These towers were all over English and Scottish borders to warn of impending danger.  Later Gawthorpe was built around the tower to be a handsome Jacobean home by the Shuttleworth's in 1600.  Inside are Victorian rooms furnished with historical pieces.  There are beautiful plaster work ceilings, textiles and paintings.  I'm so glad we were able to return.

As we enter the Hall and check in we are directed to the Dining room.

The gallery from the dining room has the original paneling and carvings from 1605. 

As we go into the drawing room it is quite evident this is a grand and opulent home.  Notice the beautiful plaster ceiling and the old paneling.

I loved seeing this priceless inlaid tea box table.  Tea was very expensive and was kept under lock and key.

As we ascend the stairs we see the garden through the old leaded windows.

Upstairs is a very exciting part of the home that continues to serve the community as a craft center.

We viewed the most exquisite pieces.

The Gawthorpe Textiles Collection is one of the finest in Europe.  Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth collected lace, quilts, costumes, embroidery and many other pieces that interested her.

I love her vision and what it has brought to this community.

This lovely tribute wall hanging speaks to the love she had of the arts.

I apologize for the glare of the glass, but I'm finding it difficult to leave out these lovelies.

Imagine the hours spent making lace.

Flour sack material quilts.

The dresses were so lovely.

I loved seeing this old triptych painting of Gawthorpe Hall over the mantel.

The Gallery Hall was added to the home to allow the ladies of the house to be able to take their walks inside.  

The flags were set up for an event that was going to be held.

There were a few bedrooms open as well.

All of them so ornate and dressed in lovely bed coverings.

There is so much more, but I must show you the lovely gardens that surround this lovely home.

There are still a few roses in bloom and beautiful lush shades of green in the formal garden.

On our way to the car park there is the great barn, coach house and farm house.

We enjoyed our second visit to Gawthorpe Hall very much. It made our hearts happy to return.  Thank you for coming along with us. 

England, Day Five, Part Two

♫English Baroque Music♫

After seeing the interior of Chatsworth, you know we are in for a treat looking at the grounds!  There are acres and acres of gardens.  So, do you have your walking shoes on?  Let's go!

Walking out of the Sculpture Gallery and through the very tempting shop we leave the home to see Flora's Temple.

Flora's Temple was built between 1693 and 1695.  It originally stood at the center of Flora's garden, but was moved to the current location in 1750.  Jan Nost sculpted Flora.  The gardens have changed with each generation.  

Walking to the right we see The Case.

The Case was originally called the Conservative Wall.  It was designed by Joseph Paxton in 1838.  It, of course, holds all the tender plants that cannot stand the cold in Devonshire.  The structure is quite large and is about 100 yards long.  

Climbing a hill beside The Case we approach the First Duke's Greenhouse.  It houses Chatsworth camellia collection.  Outside of the greenhouse are the most wonderful peonies in full bloom!  These tree peonies were introduced by Duchess Deborah.  Aren't they beautiful?

Look at the Kennedy half dollar chair we found at the First Duke's Greenhouse.

Even though not many roses are in bloom yet, the Rose Garden is lovely.

The Rose Garden was created in 1811 by the 6th Duke.  Flora used to reside in this garden.  In 1939 Duchess Mary, wife of the 10th Duke, remodeled this area and removed the statuary.

Here are a few camellias that are in bloom.  Check out the view of Chatsworth!

Let's climb the hill and go to the stable.  We need to walk through this woven gate--wattle gate style.

The Stables are now used to house dining establishments and markets.  It is quite a large rectangular affair with an open courtyard in the center.  Note the clock in the tower.  It must be wound every other day.  

War Horse-1991

War Horse is a fairly new piece that was added to The Stables by Deborah, the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire.  She shared a close friendship with the sculptor Dame Elizabeth Frink.  The bronze statue is the first contemporary piece to be added to the ducal collection in over 150 years.  

Are you getting hungry?  All this touring around the home and the grounds has me starving.  We would love it if you join us for lunch.  There are many choices for lunch.  Let's go into the Cavendish Restaurant.  It's so nice to sit down and enjoy a little refreshment.  Grayden and I are going to split the Ploughman's Lunch.  Have what you'd like.  I'll have a lovely pot of tea, please.

Let's gaze on this view and remember it!  It's so special here at Chatsworth!

Even bluebells bloom at Chatsworth!!

And of course there are lambs!

Chatsworth gardens are enormous.  The window views from England, Day Five gives you an idea of the size.  If you want to check out more of their gardens go to chatsworth.org   Their website is wonderful!  

We wanted to visit one more place on the way back "home", Gawthorpe Hall.  This is an Elizabethan country house on the River Calder.  It is run by the National Trust.  Gawthrope Hall is affectionately known as the Downton of the North.  Since Highclere was not allowing visitors during the time we were in England we wanted to visit Gawthrope instead.  Gawthrope was redesigned by Sir Charles Barry --who designed the House of Parliament and Highclere Castle.

Driving to Gawthrope was lovely.

Arriving in the car park we noticed there were not many cars.  Also not any people as we are used to seeing.  So we walked to Gawthrope to take a look.

Now we're beginning to wonder.  Where are we going?  Continuing on we come upon a lovely estate.

Gawthrope Hall houses a large collection of portraits  from the National Portrait Gallery and The Gawthrope Textiles Collection.  I was so looking forward to viewing them.  Grayden saw some work men over the hill and asked them about us going in for a visit.  They informed him that the Hall is now closed for renovations.  They were sorry we didn't know and hoped we didn't come too far!  The National Trust had not updated this information on their website before we left home.  We were disappointed we were unable to see the inside but enjoyed the grounds to ourselves.