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Lost houses of England
We were so interested to read all your comments on our post about Sutton Scarsdale. It’s clear that these derelict or lost houses of England draw passionate interest from many and have left an indelible mark on our national consciousness. Our family has connections with the lost Rushbrooke Hall in Suffolk. It was a beautiful Tudor building laid out in the shape of an E. My Grandfather once stayed there for a night whilst researching its history. The…
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Chatsworth at New Year
The library at Chatsworth looked stunning this morning, with a traditional tree and stars as accents. There was a time when our English Stately Homes closed from October to March but their festive openings now bring in much needed income to keep them going. Chatsworth was thronging with visitors this morning. Tickets to the house had sold out, the gardens were busy and it was hard to find a free table in the cafes. Whilst some might feel…
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The Hunting Tower at Chatsworth
Our New Year adventure has begun with keys to the Hunting Tower at Chatsworth
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The Green Writing Room at Blenheim
As we sit down to write our thank you letters to friends and relations for all of the thoughtful gifts they sent us, this elegant writing room at Blenheim came to mind. The Blenheim Tapestry takes pride of place against green silk damask walls bearing the Churchill family’s coat of arms. The portraits include the first Sir Winston Churchill who was born in 1620 (not shown here). He was a staunch Royalist who was stripped of his home…
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The Great Dining Room: Chatsworth House
Following yesterday’s post of Charles Cavendish’s portrait, by Sir Anthony van Dyck, we thought that we would share the painting in situ at Chatsworth House, in Derbyshire. We love the ruby red walls in this stunning setting. Red often appears to be the choice for dining room walls in many stately homes across the country, probably due to a theory that the colour increases the appetite. It also provides a delicious backdrop, particularly for the rich palettes of…
