29-Mar-2022
Not at all far from West Hallam is Kedleston Hall. The Curzon family has lived here since the 12th century, and indeed still does, although the property has been owned by the National Trust since 1987.
There's an 18th-century mansion designed by architect Robert Adam, but we were more interested in the 800 acres of parkland. If you combine the "long walk" and the "lakeside walk", you get a goodish distance, and if you separate the two with a cup of coffee on the terrace (much colder today, but the emergence of a little bit of sun made possible our fifth successive drink-and/or-lunch outside), the result is a really pleasant afternoon.
The house is imposing, and the gardens are elegant:
The Summer House
"The ancient church is all that remains of the medieval village of Kedleston swept away in 1759 when the construction of the present hall began"
The grounds offer inspiring views:
One of the many hahas
The hermitage
Near the house
But, arguably, the star of the show is the water:
Robert Adam designed this bridge over the Cutler Brook, which was widened into a series of lakes and weirs, with very attractive results
Robert Adam also designed the fishing pavilion
Bentley’s Well, apparently named after an erstwhile steward at the hall
The weather is about to change radically -- this is such a weird March... -- so I'm glad we bagged this highly civilized little outing before it does.