Chatsworth

Main event today was to visit Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. It is not far from our lodgings so we arrived around 9.30 am to find it was already quite busy. The driveway was an absolute picture (quite long so probably should say “pictures”). Sensational views of Chatsworth and surrounding countryside and sheep grazing without fencing (contained within Chatsworth grounds by road grates) reminded me a bit of the grazing regime on Norfolk Island.

We started with the House tour and saw amazing paintings (even on the ceilings), sculptures, and furniture. There were very knowledgeable volunteers throughout who could assist with information on the House, contents, history etc.

The massive dining room was set with beautiful china, glassware and silver. The forks were all placed ‘prongs down’. When I queried this (not how a table is normally set) it was explained that in the 1600’s and 1700’s the fashion was for lacy, frilly cuffs and diners could get tangled up if the forks were placed prongs up!

There was an amazing collection of marble statues both in the Sculpture Gallery and throughout the House. Candice had a favourite female bust in the Library area with the veiling looking so very real. Other young female tourists from South America were equally excited to see it.

I loved the painting of ‘The Whitsun Walk Through Lees’, by Helen Bradley, 1968. I recall John’s Mum, Edna, talking of this event in Manchester. The Whitsun walks developed out of the Sunday School movement and were an opportunity for children, sometimes already working in factories, to have some freedom and fresh air.

There were also items made of “Blue John” something which I also heard about first when visiting John’s parents in the 1990’s.Read more