A virtually unchanged fortified manor house and a much loved family home of the Manners family
Haddon Hall is one of the nicest stately homes we have visited. It is only a short distance from Chatsworth House, but is completely different. Set high on a cliff overlooking the River Wye, it is a virtually unchanged medieval fortified manor house. It is one of the seats of the Dukes of Rutland. Between 1700-1912, they lived in Belvoir Castle and Haddon was left unlived in and untouched. In 1912, the family moved back into Haddon and began work on the restoration of the hall and gardens.
The first building on the site dates from the C11th and belonged to the Peveril family, and was passed on to one of their tenants, William Avenal. In 1170 it was acquired by Richard Vernon who married Avenal’s daughter. The Vernons were responsible for most of the buildings apart from the Peveril tower and parts of the chapel which were already there. In 1558, the heir to the manor, Dorothy Vernon eloped with and married John Manners and the hall has been in the hands of the Manners family ever since. They later became the Dukes of Rutland. It is still their family home, although the medieval rooms are open to the public.
It is a lovely walk from the car park on the A6, through wild flower meadows and over a bridge across the River Wye to the hall, reached up a flight of stone steps leading to the north west tower. A gateway leads into the outer courtyard.
Near the entrance is a small MUSEUM with old coins, keys, padlocks, wrought iron window hinges, pieces of old glass, clay pipes, lead shot, dice, playing cards and the clock mechanism. There is the death mask of Lady Grace Manners, the daughter of William Cavendish and Bess of Hardwick, who founded the Lady Manners School to provide free education for poor boys in Bakewell and Rowsley.
Haddon Hall is a very attractive long low crenellated stone building set around two courtyards with the great hall separating the two. The best time to visit is June when the lovely old roses which scramble up the stone walls are in flower.
The house is surrounded by attractive gardens, which stay open until 8pm on Thursday nights in June and July.
The lower garden below the long gallery has a centre square of grass with a small ornamental pond.
Along two sides is a wild flower border full of yellow rattle, red campion, ox-eye daisies, buttercups, plantains and ragged robin. The walls of the house are covered with old fashioned climbing roses and in front is a herbaceous border with poppies, cranesbill, violas and foxgloves.
Steps lead to the terraced upper garden with lovely views across the Wye valley. It is planted with hostas, Solomen’s seal, Jacob’s ladder, lavender, mullein and irises. In a corner is a small parterre garden.
cont...
Haddon Hall is one of the nicest stately homes we have visited. It is only a short distance from Chatsworth House, but is completely different. Set high on a cliff overlooking the River Wye, it is a virtually unchanged medieval fortified manor house. It is one of the seats of the Dukes of Rutland. Between 1700-1912, they lived in Belvoir Castle and Haddon was left unlived in and untouched. In 1912, the family moved back into Haddon and began work on the restoration of the hall and gardens.
The first building on the site dates from the C11th and belonged to the Peveril family, and was passed on to one of their tenants, William Avenal. In 1170 it was acquired by Richard Vernon who married Avenal’s daughter. The Vernons were responsible for most of the buildings apart from the Peveril tower and parts of the chapel which were already there. In 1558, the heir to the manor, Dorothy Vernon eloped with and married John Manners and the hall has been in the hands of the Manners family ever since. They later became the Dukes of Rutland. It is still their family home, although the medieval rooms are open to the public.
It is a lovely walk from the car park on the A6, through wild flower meadows and over a bridge across the River Wye to the hall, reached up a flight of stone steps leading to the north west tower. A gateway leads into the outer courtyard.
Near the entrance is a small MUSEUM with old coins, keys, padlocks, wrought iron window hinges, pieces of old glass, clay pipes, lead shot, dice, playing cards and the clock mechanism. There is the death mask of Lady Grace Manners, the daughter of William Cavendish and Bess of Hardwick, who founded the Lady Manners School to provide free education for poor boys in Bakewell and Rowsley.
Haddon Hall is a very attractive long low crenellated stone building set around two courtyards with the great hall separating the two. The best time to visit is June when the lovely old roses which scramble up the stone walls are in flower.
The house is surrounded by attractive gardens, which stay open until 8pm on Thursday nights in June and July.
The lower garden below the long gallery has a centre square of grass with a small ornamental pond.
Along two sides is a wild flower border full of yellow rattle, red campion, ox-eye daisies, buttercups, plantains and ragged robin. The walls of the house are covered with old fashioned climbing roses and in front is a herbaceous border with poppies, cranesbill, violas and foxgloves.
Steps lead to the terraced upper garden with lovely views across the Wye valley. It is planted with hostas, Solomen’s seal, Jacob’s ladder, lavender, mullein and irises. In a corner is a small parterre garden.
cont...