Calke Abbey is an eccentric baroque house sitting in a beautifully landscaped park. It is an example of a deteriorating English country house that has seen little or no conservation or restoration.
The house is built on the site of an Augustinian priory established early in the 12th century by wealthy landowner Richard, 2nd Earl of Chester. The house was transformed into an Elizabethan courtyard house when the Augustinians left. It was revamped as a baroque mansion in 1703. The neo-classical look was added in the late 18th century so the house is a curious mixture of architectural styles and many rooms remain unchanged since the 1880s.
The Harpur-Crewe Family
The house passed into the ownership of the Harpur family (later Harpur-Crewe) in 1622 and the estate prospered until the 20th century. After World War I the economic situation changed and the house became a financial burden. Some of the rooms are still in reasonable decorative order but they have mostly been used to store the strange items amassed by the Harpurs such as stuffed birds and animals, shell collections, paintings and miscellaneous curiosities.
At a time when most grand country houses were being demolished the family clung on desperately to the estate. Unfortunately, they failed to maintain the house and made virtually no changes to it. The only concession to modern living was the installation of electricity in 1962. The family amassed huge debts and their only course of action, in 1985, was to donate the house, now in a dilapidated state, to the National Trust.
Rather than restore Calke to its original splendour the National Trust has carried out only essential repairs so what you see here is not a highly restored house but a strangely fascinating house that reveals the various stages of occupancy since 1704.
The Saloon
The Victorian passion for collecting is evident in The Saloon, now a museum full of display cases containing fossils, Egyptian curiosities and several thousand stuffed birds and animals.
His Lordship's bedroom
This bedroom features original Victorian wallpaper and is just as it was in the 19th century. Like the Saloon it also contains a collection of fossils. Over the bed and the fireplace are a number of hunting trophies.
The Children's Room
This room was used as a school room and still contains hundreds of children's books and toys. These items give a valuable insight into the subjects taught as well as the interests and activities of children during the 19th century.
18th-Century State Bed
In one of the other bedrooms you can see an 18th-century state bed complete with its exquisite Chinese silk hangings. The embroidered birds, flowers and oriental figures are still vibrantly colourful. Apparently the bed was a wedding gift in 1734 but was never used and remained hidden in a box until the Trust discovered it.
The Gardens
The house is surrounded by out buildings and landscaped gardens that still reflect the importance of the property. The estate also has its own church built in the late 16th Century. In 1927-9 it was renovated in the Gothic style by Sir George Crewe and has a beautiful stained glass window. Close to the church are various gardens dating from 1773 including a walled garden, the 18th century domed orangery, physic garden now planted with vegetables, and the flower garden with its Auricula Theatre.
Visits are by timed tickets but once you're inside you can spend as long as you like looking round and there is certainly plenty to see. The National Trust will provide additional information.
