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.

 

A Festival of Trees

Recently, whilst on the travels I mentioned in my last post, we dropped into Bakewell in Derbyshire where there was a wonderful Christmas Tree Festival in All Saints church.

Luckily it was a bright and sunny morning as we walked up to the church. 

Inside it was warm and welcoming even the church cat was waiting at the door.  It was of course trying to get inside where there were lots of trees to climb.

My camera took lovely photos out in the open but some of my interior shots were dismal.  There were also lots of people inside but I manged to get a few photos and below are some of my favourites.

The tree above was by the bell ringers of All Saints commemorating all the bell ringers lost during the first world war.

 Decorated by Hassop Church Choir

 Christian Aid working to help restore dignity out of poverty.

 Bakewell Visitor Centre

 The Prayer Tree

 Above and below......

... by A J Welldressers

 Above and below Bakewell U3A Craft Group

 Bakewell Alms Houses and Bakewell Town Guild

 Methodist Junior School

 I loved this one, all the details with sugar mice, goose eggs and robins in watering cans by The Georgian Sweet Shop

 Above and below a selection of tree to be found in the sanctuary.

Tiroler Stuberl is an Austrian coffee shop in the town.

The Peak Advertiser and Wee Dram

 Bird Song

 Above the Family History Group, Brides of Bakewell and Bakewell in Bloom.

Just down the road from Bakewell is Haddon Hall where we spent a couple of hours  in the land of fairy tales.  

 I'll take you there in my next post.

Out in the Fresh Air

As promised in my previous post more on our walk at Ilam which was nearly a week ago.  The last week has just flown by.  We've been busy writing and posting cards and parcels with the inevitable queue at the post office and shock as to how much the special Christmas stamps cost.  We've travelled across Derbyshire to visit relatives in Chesterfield and a couple of days later along the busy A50 and A38 to visit relatives in Mansfield.  I find these trips quite tiring now especially coming home in the dark but we did see some lovely festive lights in Alfreton, Matlock, Matlock Bath and Cromford on our travels.

Back to beautiful Ilam. My camera seemed to behave itself this time so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  Having said that the area is very inspiring making it hard to take really bad photos.

It was very cold but bright and sunny. 

The courtyard around the visitor centre was looking quite festive.

Very unusual to see no one on the bridge playing pooh sticks.

The river was quite high and the water racing along at quite a pace.  I bet it was freezing.

The tearooms which looked warm and busy through the steamy windows as we walked past.  We didn't go in as we had flasks of coffee in the car.

The church of the Holy Cross in Ilam.  I can see from the clock that it was a quarter to one when we visited.

We walked past the Youth Hostel which you can see in the photo below and down to the church to see if it was open.

To the right one of the Saxon crosses in the churchyard.

 Another part of a Saxon cross.

In spite of the cold air the door was propped open to welcome all.

We just had a quick peek inside.

The thing I noticed most was the glorious scent of pine and spruce from the sprigs of foliage hanging on each pew end.

Such a festive aroma. 

 A closer look at the Saxon font.

Below are a couple of links to previous posts on the church and village

January 2011 

January 2012 

On our walk we discovered a reindeer trail we easily found Rudolph, Donner and Blitzen also Vixen and Prancer but we didn't find Dancer and Cupid.  It would be no hardship to go back and seek them out.