This is where I was born - it is the place where I learnt to love wild flowers, appreciate the countryside, and enjoy beautiful architecture - this is Derbyshire - my roots.
I knew that in the village of Sudbury, Derbyshire, there was a Crinkle Crankle wall hidden away somewhere. I must have read about it and remembered that it was near to the village school. On arriving we made enquiries of a local who had neither heard of it or knew anything about it. Crinkle Crankle walls, also known as Serpentine walls, and ribbon walls are an uncommon feature, and I was keen to find it. We saw a road sign - School Road - so decided that would be a good place to start. On arrival at the school a caretaker emerged from the door, the schools are empty for the summer, and he asked what we wanted. I described what we were looking for, and he said he had noticed it for the first time recently. He showed us round to the back of the school where we had a quick look, before he let us out again, padlocking the gate as we departed.
The wall is made of half circles. On this side it forms bays, a perfect place for growing new and rare vegetables for Sudbury Hall, one of the last Jacobean houses to be built in the country. This must have been part of their walled kitchen garden at some stage.
The next task was to see the other side of the wall. It now has private gardens backing onto it and is split up so impossible to see the whole curving line of the wall.
A cheeky knock on a door elicited a very kind lady who allowed us see a small part of the rear side of the wall in her garden.
Sadly my best attempt
A better example showing the rear of a much smaller crinkle crankle wall in Norfolk
courtesy of wikipedia
A better example showing the rear of a much smaller crinkle crankle wall in Norfolk
courtesy of wikipedia
Sudbury is what is colloquially called an Estate Village, meaning that the whole village was built by the the Lords Vernon of Sudbury Hall for the worker's on their estate.
The Butcher's shop shuttered up for Sunday
The local Public House - the Vernon Arms
Village shop
Village stocks
The next stop for us was to Chatsworth House, which was wrapped up like a big parcel on my last visit due to restoration. The Duke of Devonshire has spent 40 million pounds having the stonework cleaned, and the window surrounds and finials gilded with 18 carat gold. It has been restored to the way it would have looked when it was first built in the 17th century, and I was sceptical as to how the windows might look.
Lying in the Derwent Valley and known as the Palace of the Peak, Chatsworth still remains one of my favourite stately homes.
An elegant 17th century bridge spans the river Derwent to Chatsworth House
A collage of one of the entry gates newly gilded
The golden windows sparkled in the morning sunshine, and are an absolute triumph along with the gilding on the carved stonework and finials topping the classical urns - time was now short - we had a family wedding to attend.
My sister gave me one of the flower arrangements from her daughter's wedding to bring home.
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