{"id":15764,"date":"2017-05-09T12:13:11","date_gmt":"2017-05-09T12:13:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/?p=15764"},"modified":"2017-05-09T12:13:12","modified_gmt":"2017-05-09T12:13:12","slug":"inspecting-lyme-hall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/inspecting-lyme-hall\/","title":{"rendered":"Inspecting Lyme Hall"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A forty-five minute drive from our base near Curbar Edge, lies Lyme Hall<\/a>. \u00a0This vast (once sporting) Estate on the very edge of the Peaks was once home to the Legh Family, and is well looked after by the National Trust today. Used as a film\/TV setting on many an occasion, it is probably most recognisable as Darcy’s Pemberley Hall in the BBC’s production of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice… In fact you should really try to visit this year to peer into the very same Reflection Lake as Mr Darcy and Miss Bennet themselves, as Lyme Hall marks the 200th anniversary of the year of the death of Jane Austen with plenty of Regency celebrations. \u00a0More on that later, but now back to its most recent notable owner (also of Regency heritage) Thomas Legh…<\/p>\n

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A view of the house from the Italian Gardens<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You could probably write a fantastic blockbuster about Sir Thomas himself, he was the illegitimate son of Thomas Legh Senior and a maid after all – but a good few years after he inherited the Estate (at the age of five), he went on to use his vast wealth to travel the globe (Lyme Hall describes him as the Indiana Jones of his time!). His holiday souvenirs are very much in evidence dotted about the place, as are his travel diaries which are still kept at Lyme Hall today…<\/p>\n

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Obviously we took advantage of the opportunity to dress in Regency costume for a wander about the place (whilst Mr R enjoyed the grounds with the smallest member of our family as per the new family rules of my Eyam post<\/a>!). Even the usually reluctant at dressing up Small Boy got in on the act (although he did moan that boys of the time must have been blinking cold wandering around just wearing a jacket – his star wars t-shirt was pleasantly “confiscated” by the lovely dressing room ladies for not being historical enough)!<\/p>\n

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Admiring the tiles… That umbrella caused me to hold my breath on more than one occasion in a house packed full of antiques I can tell you, AND it was only put up in a clear space for a photograph or two!!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I do love a place that encourages children to delve deeper into history, and it was fabulous to see a lot of grown ups getting in on the act too! \u00a0I did try a hat on, but thankfully there’s no evidence as I am the photographer and all…<\/p>\n

The Small People really enjoyed investigating the playroom (still in their costumes!), which is \u00a0stocked with games and popular toys of the time, and exploring the vast long gallery on the top floor with the massive billiards table that you can actually play, not to mention the masses of ghost stories that kept them enthralled… Whilst Lyme is obviously gorgeous to visit in the Spring and Summer with its abundance of flower beds, walled gardens and manicured lawns, I wouldn’t necessarily want to be locked in at night. Do head to the Knight’s bedroom where the story of the skeleton discovered beneath the floorboards had us all shivering, and keep an eye out for the White Lady who is spotted quite often apparently…<\/p>\n

You are not stuck for food choices here either, with a great choice in the Ale Hall in the cellar, and the little tea parlour which comes in very handy for makeshift picnic goods. We ate our picnic perched on top of a hill beneath the Cage Tower whilst surveying the beautiful scenery (and the deer!) below…<\/p>\n

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Botanical investigations at Lyme Hall… #lymehall #nationaltrust #peakdistrict<\/a><\/p>\n

A post shared by Emma (@bavariansojourn) on

And for those of you with offspring less interested in the historical stuff, fear not – there’s the most fantastic playground – Crow Wood, \u00a0set across the other side of the grounds (and complete with another great cafe!). Perfect blackmail material once the more serious house and garden inspection stuff is out of the way! You shouldn’t miss the tiny little nature playground tucked away to the side of the house closest to the Italian Gardens either, with it’s herb exploration beds, and trees that you are encouraged to climb!<\/p>\n

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We really loved the community feel about Lyme Hall. It really feels like it belongs to everyone, which is evident in the masses of families enjoying both the more manicured gardens, and the masses of moorland (around 1,400 acres to be precise!) in which to walk the dog. Throughout the year there are loads of non-history related things to join in with too, including nordic walks, forest schools and boot camps which makes it accessible to anyone and everyone. \u00a0It’s worth setting aside a day for whilst you’re in the Peaks… \u00a0Just keep an eye out for the White Lady<\/a>!!<\/p>\n

We had time to stop off off in Buxton on the way back, famous for its Spa Waters that date back to Roman times, and the well dressings<\/a> that are displayed between May and September (there are actually\u00a0plenty more festivals<\/a> throughout the year here) each year (started as a collective thank you from Buxton residents when piped water was made available at the market place fountain).<\/p>\n

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Buxton university building<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Sadly the famous Spa baths shut their doors for good back in the Eighties, but this place is definitively worth a visit as there are so many ghosts of the past all over the place. \u00a0 I had fun exploring the Pavilion Gardens, and the many back streets with their glimpses into Victorian and Georgian life.<\/p>\n

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All this while the Small boy enjoyed yet another holiday haircut (I think he’s aiming for some kind of record boasting haircuts in Norway, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Greece, America, Germany, Budapest, Austria and a few other places!) before a fish and chips tea (food: another form of blackmail often used in our house!)…<\/p>\n

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