Monday, September 26, 2016

The 1620s House

I'm returning to mid August this year and the last of the buildings I promised to write about in my post of 2nd September. I think I've taken you here before on one or two occasions but I thought I would write another post as one of our favourite places Donington le Heath Manor House has undergone refurbishment and many changes and has re-branded itself as The 1620s House and Garden.

Built as early as 1290 it is one of the oldest houses in Leicestershire and has a long history as a family home.  It is now cared for by Leicestershire County Council.

From the 15th Century onwards it was owned by the Digby family and they were the family that started the modernisation of the house around 1618 which turned the building into the structure we see today.

The first thing I noticed as we arrived was that there is now a reception kiosk near the gate of the car park and what was originally the reception area and shop has been turned back into the scullery.  This is where food coming into the house would have been cleaned and prepared ready for the kitchen.

Food would have been cooked on the open fire in the kitchen, on the spit and in the little ovens you can see in the wall behind the fire.  The fire would be constantly lit and this would have been the warmest room of the house.  Both family and servants would have taken meals in here on a daily basis unless there were visitors or guests who would be fed and entertained in the upper chamber.

Above one of the windows in the kitchen.  I loved all the natural flower displays in replica salt glaze ware jugs.

Across the well yard and up the stairs are the bedrooms and upper chamber.  The room above is a re-creation of Mr Digby's study, this room was also secretly used as a place of worship as the Digbys were still of the Catholic faith at a time when it was dangerous to be so.

The bed above is in the corridor bedroom.  This meant that the servants, family members and guests could pass through at any time so there was a lack of privacy here unless the bed hangings were drawn.  The appearance of the bed was another change I noted as the last time I saw it it had, as far as I remember, darker and plainer hangings.  The legend around this bed which is known as 'King Dick's Bed' is that it came originally from The Blue Boar Inn in Leicester and was supposedly the bed Richard III slept in before he left the city to fight at the Battle of Bosworth.  It seems though that most of the bed dates from the late 17th century.  The hangings are newly made.

A new wall has been built between the lobby and the Great Chamber as I seem to remember that this was one long room the last time we visited.  There would have been access by stairs from the garden up to the lobby and the great chamber which would have been used by the family for games and pastimes, dancing and entertaining.  
It was also used by the ladies of the house for spinning and sewing. You can see a spinning wheel at the end of the room top left in the photo.

 Out in the gardens and through the rose garden is a working plant garden

A formal herb garden

and a dye plant bed.  Above you can see flax growing.  The plant stem was used to make linen and the seed to make linseed oil which was used to treat diseases of the lungs.
You can see the door up in the wall of the house which would have had a staircase leading up to the lobby and Great Chamber.

Above a  view of the rear of the house.  To the right is the ornamental maze and vegetable garden.

Some of the modern replicas of  objects dotted about the house that you can touch and look at more closely.

Above a few more views around the house.

32 comments:

  1. What an interesting post Rosie with great photos - no wonder it is one of your favourite places to visit :) It looks so well maintained and cared for and the garden looks a delight to walk round. I do like seeing natural flowers in old fashioned type containers in old houses. I can see I am going to have check how far it is from here - as well as giving me lots of book ideas you also give me ideas of places to visit :) Thanks so much.

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    1. I think it closes soon for the season but there are some seasonal events. I think we have visited half a dozen times now and it never disappoints:)

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  2. I like the sound of the 1620 house. That kitchen would have been the hub with the stove lit all day and no doubt food cooking. Quite smoky I think. Love the leaded windows with the gorgeous window sills. I think I would quite like to live there. Thanks Rosie for your fascinating post. B x

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    1. It would have been smokey but I bet it was the most popular room in the house for its warmth:)

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  3. It's very neat isn't it and quite large. Fascinating. Extra points for the thistles! :-)

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    1. Those thistles were very tall but the colours go well with the stone of the house:)

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  4. I would be in my element in that place. What a fabulous old house.

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    1. It is a lovely, quiet and atmospheric place:)

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  5. What a well restored building - fascinating to see how people lived in those days - as I live in Leics. I should really put this on my list of local places to visit :)

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    1. Oh, yes do visit if you can, it closes soon for the season excet for special, seasonal events. I think you would like the garden too:)

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  6. Oh gosh, what a magical place! It is incredibly beautiful and looks very calm. No doubt it wasn't fun to live in back then, but it is wonderful to look back isn't it. Thank you for taking us along! xx

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    1. I would like to go when they have people in costume doing demonstrations of how the house was used but the emptiness of it made it a very quiet and peaceful visit:)

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  7. I spotted the spinning whee. Just for fun I have a little spinning wheel, but it is sobering to think what my life would be like if my family depended on me to produce enough yarn to clothe them and keep them warm! Thanks for the interesting post.

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    1. Thanks, Gracie - glad you enjoyed the post:)

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  8. What a lovely post, I really enjoyed your tour of the house.

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    1. Thank you so glad you enjoyed the post:)

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  9. Did you try the lavender cake in the tea shop? I can recommend it!

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    1. I will look out for it next time we visit, I expect it is seasonal. We took a picnic with us so didn't go into the barn cafe although I have been in there on a previous visit:)

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  10. What a wonderful place. It's the sort of house I'd enjoy wandering around - there's so much to love about it. The old wooden furniture is fabulous, especially the solid table in the scullery. Of course it would have been cold to live in, although that large fireplace would have thrown out lots of heat.

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    1. It is lovely both inside and out and such a quiet and peaceful visit too, we had the place to ourselves at one point:)

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  11. Such a lovely place, Rosie. Not too ornate and with a true sense of history, I enjoyed the visit.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Thanks, Amalia glad you enjoyed the visit:)

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  12. It looks like a really interesting place Rosie. I like the wide window ledges and would love to grow that striking flax! I hope you have a great weekend.x

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    1. It is very interesting Simone and I too loved the windows and window ledges especially those with flowers in jugs displayed in them:)

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  13. What an interesting place, I love manor houses. I don't think I've ever seen flax growing before or if I have I didn't know what is was.

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    1. The flax is interesting isn't it? Used for so many purposes too:)

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  14. Hi Rosie, I'm sorry about your lost. My condolences.

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    1. Thank you Sandra for your kind thoughts:)

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  15. So very sorry about your brother in law. Thinking of you, sending hugs and love and good thoughts to you. xx

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    1. Thank you Amy so kind and thoughtful of you to leave a comforting message:)

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  16. Just adore this wonderful historic house! All of the wonderful details were such a joy to see. I had never seen flax in a photo that close and that was also interesting!

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    1. Thanks, Marie - it is a lovely place to visit:)

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