Monday 23 May 2011

Hardwick Halls

Hubby and I ventured to Hardwick Hall - a few stops down the MI - as they were having a Food Festival. We spent a very tasty couple of hours in the tents trying morsels of everything! It was very crowded though. We didn't take advantage of the 2 for 1 admission fees at the hall as we decided to a walk around the lakes instead (to walk off the calories), but I managed to take a few photographs of the 2 halls that stand at Hardwick.


The "new" hall was built for Bess of Hardwick in the 1590's
It is a lovely building and visible from the motorway - you may have seen it. I like the gardens at Hardwick as they grow lots of herbs.
The older hall still stands and you can wander around this magnificent building too.

You can peep through the windows and see some of the magnificent features that remain.

Sad to report that the little bird didn't make it. I think its mummy couldn't find it as it stopped cheeping. I haven't seen the 2nd little one, so I am hoping that this has survived the night. I hope the others don't try and get out of the box as it's blowing a gale here at the moment.

15 comments:

A garden just outside Venice said...

Sorry to hear about the little bird :(
xxx

Jo said...

That sounds like a nice couple of hours with lots of tasty morsels to be had. What a shame about the little bird, hope the other one made it.

Susan T said...

Poor little bird.

Have always wanted to go to Hardwick Hall. Your photos make me want to visit even more.

diane b said...

These are beautiful old buildings. If only the walls could talk. Sad about baby bird.

Ms B. Thrift said...

Helloooo! We went to the food festival yesterday, hope you enjoyed all the lovely freebies and got some tasty treats?

Rosie said...

I read about the food festival and would have liked to visit but it seemed a bit far to go after having just got back from Stratford. Glad you had a great time. Poor little bird!

Jean said...

We went to the food fair and really enjoyed it. I was amazed how many people were there. It was heaving when we had to leave early at 1.30 but cars were still pouring in. It was well worth the modest entrance fee and I was delighted to see so many very local suppliers and a lovely craft tent.

Twiggy said...

That is such a coincidence. We went down the M1 on Saturday to Drayton Manor and Mr Twigs said I've always wondered what that building is up there. On the way home we saw signs for Hardwick Hall and I said perhaps that's it - your photos confirm it is!! Glad you had fun
Twiggy x

Diane said...

Bad news about the little bird, hope the others are OK. Diane

Lucy in the Clouds said...

I went there a couple of years ago and loved it, the history of the place is so interesting! Sorry to hear about the little bird though, nature is red in tooth and claw and all that :(

Janet said...

Love the old plaster work in that derelict building- sorry about the chick-its so sad considering how hard the parents work to get the chicks to that stage.

Anonymous said...

Shame about the chick. I love Hardwick Hall and enjoy hearing about Bess of Hardwick. Wonderful furniture items within the hall too.

Lyn said...

Oh dear, poor little one.
xxx

Rowan said...

Oh dear, poor little one - I've just read this after commenting on the previous post.
Hardwick is interesting and you can go in the Old Hall, it belongs to English Heritage though rather than the NT. I love the herb garden at Hardwick,it has a really good variety of plants to see and always looks so pretty.

Jenny Woolf said...

Visited this years ago but don't remember the old hall. Another place - yet another place - on my list of places to go and see again.