Calke Abbey — An English Country House Frozen in Time

August 19, 2017July 15, 2023 David James

Calke Abbey is an 18th-century country house near Ticknall, Derbyshire, England, in the care of the charitable National Trust.

The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty is the largest membership organization in the United Kingdom.

a charity that works to preserve and protect historic places and spaces—for ever, for everyone.

Once the site of a 12th-century Augustinian priory until its dissolution by Henry VIII, a beautiful Baroque mansion was built in its place between 1701 and 1704, taking the name “Calke Abbey”.

Set in the midst of a landscape park, Calke Abbey is presented by the National Trust as an illustration of the English country house in decline.

There are three types of listed status for buildings in England and Wales:

Grade I: buildings of exceptional interest.
Grade II*: particularly important buildings of more than special interest.
Grade II: buildings that are of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve them.

Calke Abbey is Grade I—the highest level in terms of its historical importance.

A massive amount of remedial work, but no restoration, has been carried out, and interiors are almost as they were found in 1985.

Although the decay of the building and its interiors has been halted, it has not been reversed.

So visitors get to experience the house with everything in its place, just as it was handed to the National Trust—untouched for over 100 years.

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Join me as we take a tour of an English Country House, frozen in time.

Calke Abbey, Derbyshire. Credit PJMarriott

Calke Abbey main building. Credit Thomas Quine

Calke Abbey, Derbyshire. Credit Chris Hoare

The Drawing Room at Calke Abbey, Derbyshire. Credit Thomas Quine

The Dining Room , Calke Abbey. Credit Phil Sangwell

Mantelpiece in Calke Abbey. Credit Mark Longair

The Salon at Calke Abbey, Derbeyshire. Credit Thomas Quine

The library at Calke Abbey, Derbyshire. Credit Thomas Quine

While we’re in the library, fancy a game of Happy Families? (called “Cheery Families” in the mid 19th century).

Happy Families (Cheery Families) in Calke Abbey. Credit Mark Longair

Winding Staircase at Calke Abbey. Credit Thomas Quine

Family portraits on the stairway. Credit Thomas Quine

Created in 1626, the Harpur-Crewe Baronetcy, of Calke Abbey, Derbyshire was a title in the Baronetage of England.

Passed down through ten Baronets, the title became extinct in 1924 when the estate went to the female line and then to the grandson of the last Baronet.

Inheritance tax forced the sale after his death in 1981 and in 1985, the National Trust took possession.

Reminiscent of Mr Darcy in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Sir Henry Crewe the 7th Baronet, became one of the richest land owners in Derbyshire, with an income of, you guessed it, £10,000.

Described as an “unfortunate connection” by his mother Lady Frances because it breached the social conventions of the time, Sir Henry married his mistress, a lady’s maid called Ann or Nany Hawkins.

The Harpur-Crewe Baronets had a fascination with taxidermy, displaying all manner of birds, insects, game, and even prize cattle around the house, some in glass cases and some mounted on walls.

Bird showcases at Callke Abbey, Derbyshire. Credit Thomas Quine

Taxidermy - the hobby of a gentleman naturalist. Credit Thomas Quine — Taxidermy – the hobby of a gentleman naturalist. Credit Thomas Quine

Boar's Head. The Harpur-Crewe family that owned Calke Abbey had a fascination with taxidermy. Credit Thomas Quine — Boar’s Head. The Harpur-Crewe family that owned Calke Abbey had a fascination with taxidermy. Credit Thomas Quine

Hinting at the joys of children’s laughter throughout the house at one time are these high chairs for meal times.

Children's chairs, Calke Abbey, Derbyshire. Credit Thomas Quine — Children’s chairs, Calke Abbey, Derbyshire. Credit Thomas Quine

How many hours of happiness did this cheerful rocking horse provide?

Antique Rocking Horse, Calke Abbey. Credit Thomas Quine

And at one time, a child’s imagination would be set alight by the magical miniature world of dollhouses.

Details of a Doll's House in Calke Abbey. Credit Mark Longair — Details of a Doll’s House in Calke Abbey. Credit Mark Longair

Sitting patiently on a window ledge, a Piggy Bank waits for its stored change to be used to buy more toys for a rainy day.

Piggy Bank at Calke Abbey, Derbyshire. Credit Thomas Quine

Calke Abbey Kitchen. Credit Bob Radlinski, flickr

Antique carriage, Calke Abbey. Credit Thomas Quine

Antique Wheelchair, Calke Abbey. Credit Thomas Quine

Calke Abbey Gardens, Derbyshire. Credit Bob Radlinski, flickr

The Orangery , Calke Abbey. Credit Phil Sangwell

Walled garden and Gardener's Cottage at Calke Abbey, Derbyshire. Credit Nancy — Walled garden and Gardener’s Cottage at Calke Abbey, Derbyshire. Credit Nancy

To keep the grounds looking immaculate, a host of equipment was needed, including manual mowers, lawn rollers, edge trimmers and other garden tools—all stored just how the gardener left them 100 years ago.