Calke Abbey

March 7, 2010

The car boot was a bust so unfortunately, not much to show for that (save for some pretty floral fabric that I might attempt to make a skirt out of). I do have some pictures to share though, from our visit to Calke Abbey yesterday, which is a ‘country house and estate preserved in 20th-century decline’, looked after by the National Trust. It was once owned by an eccentric and wealthy family, but as times grew difficult, parts of the house were shut off and more or less abandoned until, eventually, they had to give it up entirely. It was pretty amazing walking through this big old country house and watching as it became more and more neglected. None of it has been restored by the National Trust, everything is just preserved.

Wouldn’t this place be perfect for a Tim Walker shoot? Unfortunately (read: stupidly), I didn’t get a shot of the house itself, but if you Google it you’ll find lots of pictures.

I also went to see Alice in Wonderland this weekend. I don’t know what the general consensus is on Tim Burton’s interpretation, but I thought it was wonderful, and very well cast.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

briannelee March 7, 2010 at 11:20 pm

Wow, these shots are amazing!

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Justice Pirate March 7, 2010 at 11:43 pm

That is insane that all that really awesome stuff is just sitting there like that!!!!

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Kate March 8, 2010 at 12:00 am

Oh my gosh I want to live here!!

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Lauryn March 8, 2010 at 12:05 am

This is beyond stunning, it's so sad that the family had to abandon it but so nice that it's was preserved. I'd love to live in an amazing place like that.

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zog_etiquette March 8, 2010 at 12:06 am

this place is the best. I want a case filled with dead butterflies so badly!

xx

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Ms. B @ Millie Deel March 8, 2010 at 12:12 am

What wonderful photos!! I would so love to visit that place!!

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Storybook Woods March 8, 2010 at 12:13 am

Wow, what an amaing piece of history. You are so lucky to be able to see it. Clarice

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anja louise March 8, 2010 at 12:28 am

Woah I would love to see that place in person! Everything looks pretty perfect to me.

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Julie Whitmore Pottery March 8, 2010 at 1:19 am

thank you for taking and posting all these wonderful images.
very restful. yes, restful!

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Jessica March 8, 2010 at 1:19 am

hullo dream house. That's what I want my home to look like when I have one of my very own!! xx

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Lara March 8, 2010 at 2:43 am

Wow. I am in awe of that table in the library!! It is so beautiful! All the pictures are just wonderful!

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Isabel March 8, 2010 at 3:06 am

That place looks absolutely fascinating. I want to take a visit!!

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Lulu March 8, 2010 at 3:21 am

oh i so want to visit now! this place sounds utterly amazing!!!!

postcardsfromdreamland.blogspot.com

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Roxanne Rosensteel March 8, 2010 at 3:57 am

What absolutely stunning photos!! Really, absolutely gorgeous.

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Ashlee March 8, 2010 at 4:39 am

what an incredible old house…

i can only hope to have so many amazing treasures.

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Mel March 8, 2010 at 5:51 am

Wow this is amazing! My favorite is of the library room, I totally want a room like that :)

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Tonia March 8, 2010 at 8:47 am

I agree, Calke Abbey is amazing – you should get yourself to Snowshill Manor when you can, that please is incredible!

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Rebecca Olivia March 8, 2010 at 9:31 am

Wonderful photographs! I visited a few years ago and it is one of the most hauntingly beautiful and melancholic places. Definitely a setting for Tim walker, I agree!

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Emile de Bruijn March 8, 2010 at 11:24 am

Your photographs are magical. I will try to do a post in the next few days showing the outside of the house.

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natasja March 8, 2010 at 1:35 pm

wow, your blog is lovely

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Lauh March 8, 2010 at 5:41 pm

Omg, that dream is so wonderful! I just love it :)

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avalonne March 8, 2010 at 7:32 pm

Hey, I just stumbled across your blog via darling darling. Your blog is very inspirational and beautiful. Following you now! Please feel free to visit my blog, thanks! :)

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See Hear Say March 9, 2010 at 11:27 am

wow. amazing treasures.

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Electro Geisha March 9, 2010 at 12:09 pm

I so much love that fox in your header :) These photos are beautiful, although I dont like dead animals, but still. My favorite is the one with lots of old books. I could live there :)

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Hello Lindello March 9, 2010 at 4:08 pm

wow. amazing.

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Lydia March 9, 2010 at 4:28 pm

Lovely post! Look at all those stag heads!

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Amelia Sylvia-Eve March 9, 2010 at 7:45 pm

Oh my! it's so wonderful, especially the library. Such a lovely blog as well
x x x

lavilleinconnue.blogspot.com

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Amy March 9, 2010 at 10:50 pm

Love the library! Also love the blog. Not so keen on yourself, though… (Jokes! You know you like me. You live with me :P)
xx

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antevorta March 10, 2010 at 2:31 am

I love Calke Abbey too – really interesting. And mentioning Alice in Wonderland – Did you know that was also filmed at a National Trust property? Antony house, I think, they're going to have Alice-themed events there all year. Tea party time!

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jade... March 10, 2010 at 5:52 am

so, so beautiful :)

xx

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avalonne March 10, 2010 at 6:32 am

Thanks Hannah for checking out my blog! That's so sweet! Your photography is excellent! Love the tones and colors, so amazing! Going to add you as contact on flickr too :)

Whereabouts in England are you from? I was in London and Kent for 6 years altogether! In fact, I'm visiting London for a week next Friday, woo!

If you like what you see, feel free to follow my blog :) Thanks Hannah!

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Emile de Bruijn March 10, 2010 at 7:37 am

I have just posted a few pictures of the collections at Calke with some details about the people who lived there, and with links to your blog and two others who have written about Calke recently.

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Missa March 10, 2010 at 7:49 am

Wow! This place is absolutely incredible! Wonderful pics and I think you're right about it being the perfect shoot location, especially for Tim Walker.

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Amy T March 10, 2010 at 3:52 pm

wow these pictures are scary but strangely beautiful.

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Daydream Lily March 11, 2010 at 10:27 pm

oh my gosh, I dream of seeing a house like this. I hope I grow up to be an eccentric old lady with a house full of curiosities!!

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lauren March 13, 2010 at 5:11 am

i'm kind of totally in love with these images, i can almost *smell* some of these rooms…

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Little Monarch March 14, 2010 at 4:56 pm

oh what a beautiful place! i am fascinated by taxidermy!!! must go and check it out. and i absoltely loved alice in wonderland. im going to see it again in fact. i've heard some pretty bad reviews about it but i thought it was fantastic

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faerie finder March 15, 2010 at 5:42 pm

oooh thanks for the pictures!
im definitely going to go check out the place ♥
xoxo

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Clicky Overload March 27, 2010 at 7:50 pm

Oh my gosh, heavens! This house is just incredible. I HAVE to see it. I want that library so bad. Thank you so much for posting these beautiful pictures!

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vivian March 28, 2010 at 7:42 pm

thank you for posting this! i love it.

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Prutha April 5, 2010 at 7:07 pm

this house is brilliant!!

http://donotshoeme.blogspot.com/

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Miss Holmes April 11, 2010 at 5:08 pm

what an amazing building!
I'd love to do a photoshoot there.

http://www.loloholmes.tumblr.com

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Kristina April 13, 2010 at 8:49 pm

I just found your blog and I think its amazing. I love your photos and your style. My boyfriend who is a geologist thinks that the strange white thing with teeth might be a reconstruction of a fossile organism. Possibly something like the Hemichordata Dendroidea/Graptoloidea. :)

Best regards from Sweden,
/Kristina

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Janine April 18, 2011 at 4:14 pm

This takes my breath away, it really does. I’m so sad that’s it’s hundreds of miles from me but I’m still desperate to visit this none the less

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