Calke abbey

A visit to Calke Abbey, like so many National Trust places, is a step back in time. But Calke is not presented like other country houses of its day. Paintwork is faded and peeling; vast collections of personal belongings are left as they were found. Here, the past is remarkably well preserved, in estate buildings, archaeology and the family’s belongings.

The never dull lives of those downstairs at the house now run by the National Trust has been revealed

Calke Abbey - the un-stately home. With peeling paintwork and overgrown courtyards, Calke Abbey tells the story of the dramatic decline of a country house estate. The house and stables are little restored, with many abandoned areas vividly portraying a period in the 20th century when numerous country houses did not survive to tell their story. Visit the National Trust page A mistake was made and a free day was left in my diary, so I took the opportunity to head over to Calke Abbey for a few…

I've visited a lot of places in Britain in my years of exploring this beautiful country but by far my favorite place so far is Calke Abbey. On the surface - Anglotopia Magazine, Featured, Inspirational Places, Long Reads, National Trust, Spring 2016 Trip, Stately Homes, Travel

Dating back to the early 1700s Sian Ellis takes a guided tour through the atmospheric Baroque mansion and explores its "heart-tugging progress from luxury to the faded glory."