Yesterday marked the end of a hot spell of weather, so we decided to go to Haddon Hall in Derbyshire to take advantage of the more comfortable conditions.
The Hall as it is now was started around 1370 by Richard de Vernon, and what we have today is a wonderful example of a medieval building.
There are some delightful gardens, due mainly to the passion of Her Grace the 9th Duchess of Rutland. When she arrived with her husband at the beginning of the 20th century, she encountered a garden overgrown and uncared for, and set about a massive clearance to create what is said to be one of the most romantic gardens in England.
The stone buttresses and ancient house walls are clad with many magnificent climbing roses.
The terraces are also home to many more roses, many of which were at the height of their first flush.
Nesting around the eaves were many house martins. This family of youngsters were sitting on some of the ironwork high up on the walls awaiting the arrival of lunch, which it did every few minutes.
Inside the house, above one of the rooms,was a colony of pippistral bats for which there was an apology about the smell which lingered despite all the cleaning efforts!
The house overlooks the River Wye which meanders pleasantly past and under this old packhorse bridge.
View more of my photos at Smugmug - Haddon Hall
And for more information visit Haddon Hall
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