So here I am on holiday - and minus David's company (who still can't show his face in public) I went off exploring. A forty minute drive took me into Derbyshire and to Calke (pronounced Cork) Abbey - how I have never been there before is a mystery to me - it's wonderful! I love Derbyshire anyway, (it's the county where Mr Darcy's Pemberley estate was in Pride and Prejudice - no wonder Elizabeth Bennett married him), and now I love it even more having discovered Calke. It's set on the site of an Augustinian Priory dating from the 12th century although it has never actually been an Abbey. The original building has long gone and the house that stands today is a mixture of architectural styles - but it was the wonderful park and gardens that I fell in love with; perfect weather, perfect place, perfect day.
These last two images are from St Giles Church which
stands in the grounds at Calke.
stands in the grounds at Calke.
6 comments:
You have no idea how I envy you! Canada, being a young country, has nothing like this, of course. ::Wistful sigh::
I hope David's soon able to come out of hiding, as it were. :-)
Oh my! These are all just lovely. But that second capture and the reflection is amazing. I want to come visit!!!! Hope David can appear in public soon!
Kathy
Dream of photographs. Love it! I can imagine Mr. Darcy hovering around that bench and the stained glass window is divine!
These photos make me wish we were in England. I do love these scenes. I always wonder what it would have been like to live in one of these enormous mansions. Chilly and drafty probably. P. D. James' new book is something about Mr. Darcy and Pemberley; can't remember the title.
Don't you just adore perfect days like that? What a magical place to spend it. It's a shame David had to hide in the belltower ;-), but at least you were able to take beautiful photos to take home and share with him, and hopefully you'll return to Caulke (pronounced like Cork? Seriously?) - this time together - soon.
Did you get to go inside the house, or is it currently occupied? I'm quite smitten with the area with the glass dome above, and am guessing it's the front porch (though I'm sure it has a grander name than "porch!") :-)
The grounds are sublime, especially the lovely lake and the stone bench under the tree. It looks like you had the entire place to yourself!
LOVE the Edward Thomas quote!
And stained glass windows - there are few human-made things more beautiful, IMO - such talent it takes!
Laloofah - a seriously wonderful place. The bit with the glass dome isn't attached to the main house, it's where the walled gardens are etc. I think it's some kind of glass house or conservatory (I was too tight to buy a guide book, LOL!).
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