After our visit to Little Moreton Hall on Saturday we were swept back in time again on Sunday. This time at my very favourite of all the Derbyshire stately homes - Haddon Hall.
It was an interpretation of Tudor Life weekend given by the Tudor Group. We'd been in May to see their 'Life above Stairs' event and last weekend it was their 'Life Below Stairs' event. In May it had been a damp and murky day with frequent outbursts of heavy rain. On Sunday it was even hotter then the day before at Little Moreton.
The women were doing the laundry, washing the clothes in the river, beating them on the stones or with wooden paddles, ringing out the garments and fabrics and laying them on the grass and in the hedges to dry.
It was hot work under the noon day sun so those lovely straw hats were needed.
Laundering the linen was a full days task but made nicer by the warm weather and camaraderie.
Meanwhile close by the blacksmiths forge was in action and a young apprentice was learning the trade.
In the hall the servants were hard at work tailoring and mending clothing. polishing the silver and using the time the family of the house were away to preserve food and prepare medicinal herbs and ointments.
The tailors were at work in the main hall
The kitchen servants were busy preparing food
Above polishing the silver and below collecting herbs
The gardens at Haddon were looking spectacular.
As usual I took far too many photos!
I didn't notice until I looked at this photo that there is a striped snail on the poppy
Across the river at the bottom of the garden is the narrow bridge known as Dorothy's bridge.
Legend has it that in 1563 Dorothy Vernon, youngest daughter and co-heiress of George Vernon the owner of Haddon Hall, eloped by escaping across the bridge to meet her intended John Manners. The Hall is still owned by the Manners family.
I loved this view from an open window in the long gallery.
Another view of the Hall from down in the terraced gardens
It was so very hot outside
I hope you've enjoyed my little snapshot of Tudor life at Haddon.
I'm going to take a break from blogging for just a little while.
I'll see you all soon.
I'm going to take a break from blogging for just a little while.
I'll see you all soon.
What a wonderful place to visit Rosie, it looks like a great day, and a very interesting one too with lots to see and learn. I bet that you were glad that you don't live in Tudor times though as the outfits look as though they make everything very hard work, without the actual hard work as well. Thank goodness for modern clothes! Hope that you have a good bloggy break and get to do some nice things. xx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amy. I'm so glad that I didn't live then as just staying fed and clean must have taken such a lot of hard work but I did love those hats - especially in such sunny weather:)
DeleteAnother great day out Rosie, have a really lovely break.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jessica - I'm sure I will:)
DeleteSounds like a really good day, a great way to bring history to life!
ReplyDeleteIt is a lovely time at Haddon as it adds so much atmosphere to the place. I think the next Tudor weekend is in September:)
DeleteThe costumes are amazing, so nice to see, it certainly bring Haddon alive, certainly a place to visit. Enjoy your break and see you soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Elizabeth - the costumes are wonderful and I think I prefer the 'below stairs' ones to the 'above stairs' ones in their silks and satins:)
DeleteOne of my favourite places too. Wonderful to see it populated by people dressed in authentic garb, even if they do all look just a little too clean!
ReplyDeleteYes, they do look a little too clean but hard to recreate day in day out grime over a weekend and I expect they have all their costumes cleaned between sessions. Haddon is a lovely place isn't it?:)
DeleteI also love Haddon Hall and it's another good place to demonstrate past times in this way. The gardens will be looking lovely at this time of the year.
ReplyDeleteThe gardens were looking wonderful, Linda and I took loads of photos so may post about that another time - we were so lucky with the weather because last time we went it was too wet to venture outside at all:)
DeleteA wonderful post Rosie. I love the clothes the actors were wearing but I bet they were hot! Enjoy your blogging break. x
ReplyDeleteThank you, Simone - I won't be away for too long:)
DeleteI love Haddon. Not been this year though. Thanks for the tour.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, the gardens are looking wonderful at the moment:)
DeleteI remember our first meeting at such a day at Haddon - I loved it. I bet they were roasting in those costumes on such a hot day xx
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely day - we must do it again. I bet they were hot especially in the kitchens:)
DeleteWhat a wonderful time travel!!! Excellent performance, very realistic.
ReplyDeleteI love the colour in the pictures, It reminds me Johannes Vermeer's pictures(But I'm not sure if it is the same period in Netherlands) Really beautiful. Thanks very much Rosie, I enjoy reading your post.
Yes, I thought that one of those photos would make a good painting - you are so kind thank you. Glad you enjoyed the photos:)
DeleteAbsolutely loved this post and the photos...educational!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda glad you enjoyed it:)
Deletewhat a lovely tour.. thanks! Love Helen, Darcy and Bingley xxx
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the tour:)
DeleteHi Rosie,
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place to visit. I love visiting historic buildings and gaining an insight into the lives of those who inhabited them. I also like to see the planting schemes of old established gardens.
Thank you for sharing your visit.
Marie x
It is a beautiful place, Marie and always lovely but it is rather special when the Tudor group are there. You'd love the garden:)
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