Sunday…So Off to Church and an explore of an Old Estate

 

Calke Abbey

Last week I took you on a tour of the old walled Gardens at Calke and did promise a further look at this Old Derbyshire Family Estate that since 1622 belonged to  the Harpur Crewe family and their ancestors.

So as it is a Sunday we will start out tour at the family church of St. Giles.  Situated on a rise overlooking the house it is reached along a tree lined walk.. a brisk walk on any Sunday the family and Staff.

The Calke Estate passed to the National Trust in 1985 after the sudden death of Charles Harpur Crewe to help cover Death Duties.

But the family left quite a legacy.  For several Centuries Calke Estate was a virtual self sufficient estate with many employees.  There were several Farms (still working today), Expansive Stables, and all the accompanying workshops of Blacksmith, Harness and Tack rooms, Fire Station  Butcher, Baker and of course the Gardening staff, for a garden that had to be very food productive.

Calke Abbey is placed central to an extensive Park Land.  Deer once roamed freely they even had their own Deer Shelter, now a ruin….today the Deer are in a fenced enclosure.  The whole park land is a wonderful woodland full of ancient Oak Trees plus specimen Beech.  A place to explore across all the seasons…

 

 

The Old Man of Calke

(above right)

Just one of the oldest Oak trees still standing over 1000 years…what a story it can tell of the comings and goings at Calke, Derbyshire

 

 

9th July

(C) David Oakes 2017