Castleton and the Peak - No. 2

Only a couple of days before the long Jubilee weekend, and that sun is still shining.  I took the photo below of some of many who venture the track up to the 11th Century Peveril Castle.

On Garland Day, Kevin, Alan and Henry

made the trek - up high

and Kevin took shots of our village from above.

The village was all decorated with red, white and blue

Houses

Cafe's

those gift shops

and of course the 6 Pubs

all "tarted" up for this weekend.

The most delightful thing was walking past the Primary School and seeing the kids partying - including the Garland King on our far left below,

in their School yard adorned with "crowns or some royal head gear" - we stood there and watched - just delightful!

Even the 11th Century St. Edmunds Church 

was also decorated in that "red, white and blue".

A drive into the Peak territory - and

 a delightful roam around Haddon Hall

with Anne, Henry, the Brig and Moi.

originally held by William Peveril (that man from Castleton with a Castle)

said to be the illegal son of "William the Conquerer:"!

We did cross the River Wye

This Norman - Haddon building is mentioned in "Domesday times".

Can never resist a "jug" in a "window"!!

Anne near a Norman Arch

and very unusual windows above

or those Norman "hoppers" above.

First entry- the Chapel

with it's date

and "frescoed" walls

Next step into the main building

which had been left to "slumber"

don't you love that explanation

until 1920 when the 9th Duke of Rutland

returned to Haddon and its painted ceilings

and the magnificent hall which dates back to the 11th Century

The Garden's were incredible

in full spring colour

absolutely everywhere

A renowned garden designer

Arne Maynard's

new planting scheme

is incredibly colourful

It is influenced by the Garden's

Elizabethan origins

Plants have been used that would have been seen

in a garden at that time.

Now living here is a rather "handsome"

via photographs

Lord Edward Manners - with dogs of course!

This house has been in his family

for over 800 years.

Anyway the garden is combined with the very best of the 1930's garden revival

which was carried out by the 9th Duchess of Rutland,

A long and great day - the sun smiled

but we did need to cross the street to the George

for some more WiFi, and definitley a booking for the Wifholms at the London Airport Hilton in a couple of days.

Next day

we travel to another pretty village

and it's lovely bridge

had another big  "roast beef" and a super yorkie this day.

Checked more out near Ashford

big bridges

charming farm dwellings

and of course those incredible stone field walls.

We left Farran Cottage

after a super week with weather and great company

 thanks Guys for crossing the Atlantic - we loved it.