Saturday, December 22, 2018

Once Upon a Time

After our visit to the Christmas Tree Festival in Bakewell we drove the short distance to Haddon Hall.
We usually visit in Spring or Summer, especially when the Tudor Group are there, but have been once before to their Christmas events.

The sun was shining as we made our way to the entrance.

Inside the fairy tale trail began.

Inside the greenery and toadstool decorations led us into another world.


In the banqueting hall the soft colours of the silk and paper flowers contrasted well with the darker wood of the floor and ceiling.

Lights and the minstrels' gallery were decorated too.

In the Great Chamber we found the story of Cinderella.  Her blue glass slipper was on the table....

.....and her ball gown, constructed from leaves, in the window.

Upstairs in the long gallery we found an enchanted woodland in which Sleeping Beauty slumbered.

The spinning wheel upon which the Princess pricked her finger.

I loved all the little woodland creatures

The Princess slumbers in her flowery bower.

Next door in the parlour we found the story of the Shoemaker and the Elves.

Whilst in the State bedroom Little Red Riding Hood was visiting Grandma for tea.

But who is lurking behind the door?

The Big Bad Wolf dressed in Grandma's clothes

Back downstairs in the kitchens the Three Bears eat breakfast

Baby Bear looks as if he has finished his bowl of porridge.

By the hearth Cinderella's ordinary clothes are left behind whilst she wears the beautiful ball gown made of leaves.


Meanwhile out in the courtyard Rapunzel lets down her hair.


I loved all the extra details around the hall, especially in the kitchens.


I've added a few more photos below of the things that caught my eye.  Apologies in advance for the many photos.

 There were some beautiful festive wreaths

 Lots of trees full of pretty decorations

 I loved these two little birds

 The Christmas Tree in the Banqueting Hall was decorated with dried oranges and lemons.

 Views from the gardens.....

 ...and in the chapel.


 I saw these narcissus in a tub outside the gardeners cottage where we had tea and cake before we set out for home.
 
A little promise of Spring amongst the festive greenery.

 

34 comments:

  1. An enchanted and magical castle, fabulous photographs. The kitchens would definitely get my attention and I like the restrained decoration of the chapel. I have thoroughly enjoyed your photographs - thank you! No wonder you needed tea and cake after viewing all that, though.

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    1. Thank you Elaine, the kitchens and chapel are my favourite parts of the hall too as well as the long gallery. The cakes were huge so we shared a slice and they gave us two plates and forks:)

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  2. How lovely.I think my niece and God daughters would love this. Beautiful.x

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    1. Thank you Shazza. It would enchant little ones I'm sure especially the three bears and all the decorations on the trees:)

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  3. Lovely.Must put it in the diary for next Xmas.It looks really amazing.

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    1. Thank you Barbara. They aways have wonderful decorations for Christmas:)

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  4. It looks most enchanting Rosie! I like the shoe maker and the elves set best I think and the look on baby bear's face! x

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    1. Thank you Simone. Baby bear was cute. The Elves and the shoemaker was wonderful - all the little details and a tree covered in little elf shoes - my photo of it wasn't clear so I didn't show it:)

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  5. Oh, it looks absolutely magical! Please don't apologise for posting so many photos, I love them. x

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    1. Thank you Mrs T. It was hard to leave photos out. I'm glad you enjoyed them:)

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  6. Haven't they gone to a lot of trouble to make it such a wonderful visit. Gorgeous 🌟

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    1. Thank you, yes everything was just right, all lot of work had gone into the displays:)

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  7. What a wonderful post Rosie with lovely photos. It all looks so magical and enchanting and a super idea by Haddon Hall. I will have to check what they do next year as, although I have driven close by, I have never been.

    Just love Cinderella's dress of leaves and the festive wreaths. It looks a wonderful day out.

    Just in case you don't post again before Christmas have a wonderful time.

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    1. Thank you RR. It was a wonderful visit as well as the trees at Bakewell it made a us feel quite festive. The dress was wonderful far nicer than my photo shows. They do a special Christmas display every year but the hall is wonderful at any time and well worth a visit t's my favourite of all the Derbyshire houses. Hope you too have a wonderful Christmas:)

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  8. Wow! Wonderful shots, and a magical place!

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  9. Haddon Hall always seems a magical place whatever the season, so how perfect as a setting for such flights of fancy.

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    1. It is always lovely there especially on quiet days when you can feel history around you:)

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  10. Thanks for sharing your photos, there were not too many. All those charming tales and artistic touches. Are they done by volunteers? Merry Christmas early to you.

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    1. Thank you Terra, glad you enjoyed the photos. I expect they have both paid staff and lots of volunteers. Happy Christmas to you too:)

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  11. I love Haddon hall. It was lovely to see it dressed for Christmas. I bet children would love wandering around all those exciting rooms. B x

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    1. Thank you, yes it is a wondeful place, my favourite of all the Derbyshire houses. There weren't many children there when we visited but I bet this weekend will be full of them now school is over until the new year:)

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  12. Really enjoyed your Christmas visit, what a super place.
    Merry Christmas

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    1. Thank you Julie, glad you enjoyed visiting, it is a wonderful place to visit:)

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  13. Dear Rosie
    Haddon Hall is one of my favourite places to visit (and way back in time, my Granny's family had a link with it, as their shield can be seen in the wood carvings and also in the stained glass). It is a wonderful, magical, peaceful place and I must visit again soon. Thank you for sharing your visit.
    Best wishes for a Happy Christmas.
    Ellie

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    1. Thank you Ellie. How wonderful to have connections to such a wonderful place. I hope you get to visit again soon. Have a lovely Christmas:)

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  14. Hi Rosie, how captivating - I've never been to Haddon Hall before, but what a wonderful job they've made of dressing it for Christmas and adding some magic. Your pictures are lovely. Happy Christmas.

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    1. Thank you Jacqui, they did make a wonderful display this year. Happy Christmas to you too:)

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  15. A beautiful set of photos! I always love to visit Haddon and how the decorate so simply and seasonally. We haven't been for a few years, and the last time we were there it was a night time event, so it was a real treat to finally revisit today. I took a very similar collection of photos to yours!

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    1. Thank you Louise, I'm so glad you got to see the displays on the last day. Look forward to seeing your photos. Have a lovely Christmas:)

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  16. How gorgeous! I'd have so enjoyed that & children must be enthralled by it all. Thanks for sharing, take care & have a Merry Christmas too.

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    1. Thank you Susan. I expect there were lots of chidren there for their last weekend as they had finished school by then. Hope you too have a Happy Christmas:)

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  17. Wonderful to see your photographs.
    It's so magical, my grand-daughter would love it!
    Merry Christmas to you.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you Jan, it was very magical. Hoe you have a lovely Christmas:)

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