Saturday, May 10, 2014

Burton Agnes Hall - Part Two

It was a quiet afternoon when we visited Burton Agnes Hall.  For ages we were the only visitors walking around.   


It was so quiet and peaceful and the people on duty as guides were very friendly and helpful. 
Many rooms were devoid of visitors and guides so we had most of the hall completely to ourselves which was wonderful.

 Some of the passageways and stairways

were quite dark


whilst most the rooms were light and airy both making it difficult to take decent photos but it was good that we were allowed to take photos inside.

The hall was built between 1598 and 1610 by Sir Henry Griffith.  The architect was Robert Smythson who also designed such famous houses as Longleat in Wiltshire, Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire , Wollaton Hall in Nottinghamshire and Doddington Hall in Lincolnshire.

Above is the blue bedroom or Queen's bedroom.  It is said to be a haunted room.  I must admit I didn't sense anything about it.   Here is a - link - to the story of the ghost.  It is quite a sad but strange story.

Above is the long gallery - filled with work by many modern artists and designers including John Makepeace and Kaffe Fassett.
The afternoon was drawing to a close but we just had time to look around the walled garden 

and the wonderful sensory and colour gardens.  The woodland walk will have to wait for another time.


Below are some more of the beautiful things that caught my eye in the Hall....... 

......and in the gardens.



20 comments:

  1. The hall is huge isn't it? Although I marvel at the decoration and architecture I wouldn't feel comfortable living in such a grand place. I would much prefer to live outdoors among the walled garden! I look forward to the post about the woodland walk. x

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    1. It was a very grand place, Simone but very warm and friendly too - the gardens were delightful and I could have spent hours in there. I won't be doing a post on the woodland walk as we didn't have time to do it. Maybe next time we visit - if we are lucky enough to go again:)

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  2. I loved these two posts about Burton Agnes Hall, Rosie. I've been away from blogging this week so I missed part one when you first posted it, but I've just read the two together. I'm particularly fascinated by the oldest part of the hall, but I imagine you really appreciated it all as the only visitors there for a while. Crowds can be so distracting. That is a sad story about Anne the ghost who was so devoted to the place.

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    1. Although I loved the main hall it was the old one that really interested me too and we wre so lucky that it wasn't too busy. The ghost story is very strange and sad too:)

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  3. A great visit Rosie - there are lots of things I enjoyed about this place - the colour of the dining room walls for one thing - I loved the collage of all the pretty ornaments. The garden looks great too, love the white borders - I wish my garden was bigger sometimes so I could incorporate some of these ideas.

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    1. I loved the dining room too and it was the little details that caught my eye - everything was so clean and well presented. My photos don't do the coloured gardens justice - they were so pretty:)

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  4. The 'new' hall is very grand. I particularly loved the room with the beautiful sofa - the Salon perhaps? Its a very imposing building from the outside - I prefer the smaller, older part. Love the walled garden though.

    And now back to the ghost story ...

    Jeanne
    x

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    1. Yes I think the older building is far more interesting and approachable although the interior of the big hall was very warm and welcoming. The gardens were lovely and I bet even more so later in the year:)

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  5. Rosie, thank you for the tour, probably the best I have seen posted anywhere, truly. The property seemed to have such flow to it. I loved everything about it.
    Again, my favorite.

    I haven't been able to get the new Elly Griffiths' book from my library so I still have that treat to look forward to.

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    1. Hello - glad you enjoyed the tour! I hadn't expected to go into the main hall - we went to see the older one and hadn't realised how close they were. Hope you enjoy the new Elly Griffiths when you finally get to read it:)

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  6. It's years since I went to Burton Agnes. Part of my childhood. Thanks for the reminder.

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    1. Glad to have brought back so childhood memories for you:)

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  7. What a lovely place to visit, I'm glad that you didn't meet the ghost though. It is nice walking round somewhere when it is quiet isn't it, and you can pretend that it is your own house for a little while. xx

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    1. I'm glad I didn't meet the ghost too! I quite selfishly like to have rooms, if not places, to myself so I can take everything in and also take photos when allowed without feeling I'm in someone else's way:)

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  8. It's fantastic!!
    Very different from the old buildings in my country
    The ghost's story is a bit sad.
    I enjoy the little details that you have shown in the pictures. Thanks a lot, Rosie.

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    1. Thanks, Dolores - it is a very sad story isn't it? Glad you enjoyed the photos:)

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  9. You never fail to transport me. Your tours are wonderful. Lovely to pop by and visit you again. Love Helen, Darcy and brother Bingley xxx

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    1. Thank you, Helen, Darcy and Bingley it is lovely to see you here again:)

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  10. I've enjoyed reading both of your posts on Burton Agnes and both Halls look so interesting.Mx

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    1. Thanks, Mary - they are both well worth a visit:)

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