Saturday, 20 October 2012

Haddon Hall



Haddon Hall

Haddon Hall is about 30-40 miles from Derby near Chatworth.  The hall is one of the seats of the Dukes of Rutland and lies alongside the River Wye, just south of Bakewell. It was originally in the hands of the Peveril family (just after the Norman Conquest), but was forfeited to the Crown in 1153. It then passed to a tenant of the Peverils, William Avenal, and was acquired in 1170 by Richard Vernon, who had married Avenal's daughter. The Vernons were responsible for most of the buildings at Haddon Hall, apart from the Peveril Tower and part of the Chapel, which were already there in 1170. The Long Gallery is the only significant part which was added later.
In 1558 the heir to the manor, Dorothy Vernon, married (or as local legend says - eloped with) John Manners and the Hall has been in the hands of the Manners family ever since. It's interesting to note that the Hall has never been bought or sold.









The manor had some nice gardens - a sunny cooler day when we visited. 


Nice view of the river Wye from the Gardens


The manor has its own chapel, originally for the surrounding village in the Middle Ages






Nice backyard gardens.  The hill in the background was where we hiked after the visit to the manor.   



I picked a short trail that I thought would provide a good view of Haddon Hall.  Can you pick out the trial below (neither could we)


An occasional break in the wall with a sign post


And a lot of this... 


But the views were worth it.. 


A nice view of Haddon Hall from the opposing hillside


Friday, 12 October 2012

Wales- Conwy, Caernarfon, Snowdonia, and Llandudno


Weekend in Wales

Conwy

Conwy is an walled market town in north Wales.  Conwy Castle and the town walls were built by Edward I of England, between 1283 and 1289, as part of his conquest of Wales.  It's only ~ 2.5 hour car ride from Derby which made

 it a nice weekend visit. 








I don't think they were planning far enough toward the future.... barely room for a car, much less a horse and wagon.


October and the winter clothes are back out... 


nice hilly countryside and ocean inlet



All the signs are in Welsh and English.  We learned you can't fake Welsh.. 


Nice interior shot of the castle 


Beautiful weather all weekend, highs in the 50's and no rain.  


A little blustery on Friday


Another interior shot of the castle with the Welsh flag flying proud 





 A nice replica of the town back in the hey-day

This is classic England.. A castle, a red telephone both, and a fish and chips shop.  (required Cathedral slightly out of picture)


England's smallest house, originated as a fisherman's house, occupied until 1900.  


We got a deal to also visit Plas Mawr, an Elizabethan townhouse in ConwyThe house was built in 1585 for a merchant named Robert Wynne



This is the family crest of Robert Wynn - not sure what was going on here..  


Food a plenty back then 



Day to Snowdonia.  Driving early in the morning.   A slate mine in the background. 



In town at the train station of the only rack and pinion train in the UK.  


A tight fit all the way to the top.  



A nice view (almost) all the way to the top.








The rack and pinion.. 


We entered the clouds about 300 ft from the top... I bet the view looked great .. 

Ahhhh, what could have been.... 



Just like Mt. Everest in the summer... it crowded at the top (only ~ 3000 ft elevation).


The trains are either coal with boiler (it has to stop half way up to take on more water to refill the coal bin), or diesel.. We got the diesel..



Lots of walkers and mountain bikers along the way...


Caernarfon Castle



Caernarfon Castle was about 30 minutes south of Conwy.  It was another castle built by Edward I to defend the newly conquered Wales.




 Llandudno


Llandudno is a nice coastal city just a few miles from Conwy.  It was a nice Sunday morning visit.  







Heading up to the Great Orme summit on a cable car





Jay, your sheep are still safe