Milling around (National Trust)

Member Name: werewolf2

Product:	National Trust
Date:	08/03/05 (157 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: plenty to see, plenty to do

Disadvantages: expensive cost at first

PLACE NAME
Hardwick Hall/Stainsby Mill

BACKGROUND
These are situated at Stainsby near Holmewood, just off jnc 29 of the M1 and Hardwick Hall is clearly visible from the Motorway.

Hardwick Hall, a National Trust property, is near Stainsby Mill, another National Trust site, which is a former flourmill reopened for the public.

FACILITIES
If visiting Stainsby Mill, there is very limited parking available on a country lane and if you park in Hardwick Hall for this site, you have a long downhill trek to the Mill and of course a long uphill trek back to the car.

There is a Heritage bus most weekends in the summer (price about £5) which takes you between several interesting sites around in the area including Stainsby Mill and Hardwick Hall. You can get the bus at one of these sites and get off at another then get back on the bus to return to the original site to get back to the car. I have not yet tried it but would love to do so.

The main car park for Hardwick Hall is a field next to the property. There is usually people directing traffic into parking spaces and there are toilets in the car park area. In addition, there is usually an icecream or other type of food stall outside the property in the car park area.

Picnics are allowed but I believe that no food is allowed in the house.

English Heritage/National Trust members are allowed to park for free, all other visitors must pay the parking fee at the entrance to the long drive. English Heritage members are allowed to park free as the Old Hall is an English Heritage site.

Visitors get a reduced ticket if they produce their English Heritage/National Trust ticket at the alternative site. When I last went as an EH member, I got a pound knocked off the NT price. However, I have now joined NT, too.

Cafes/Restaurants:
Hardwick Inn, a restaurant on the edge of Hardwick Hall’s estate, and there is a café in the New Hall’s kitchen area.

Dogs are not allowed on site to the best of my knowledge, but check before travelling.

Stone Centre, this was not open last time we went so I can not comment on it, but should be open this year.

Hardwick Old Hall
This is the English Heritage building and is a ruin. It was discarded by Bess of Hardwick, Countess of Shrewbury, when the New Hall was ready.


Hardwick New Hall
This is the National Trust building and has literally thousands of windows. It was built by Bess of Hardwick, Countess of Shrewbury.

Stainsby Mill
A former flourmill opened to the public, this costs a couple of pounds (can’t remember exactly how much) each to enter. It is a working flourmill and still has a working water wheel. It is very small and can be seen in about an hour to 2 hours. Quite interesting for the children though.

PRICE
As a National Trust member, I do not pay as I pay £60 for a joint ticket for the year for my boyfriend and me.

However, I believe that the price is pretty reasonable. When I went as an EH member, it was £12.95 for adults, which I got a pound knocked off, and cheaper for children/concessionaries but this is just for the New Hall, it is more expensive for a combined ticket to see both halls and it would be a shame to miss the Old Hall site.

The English Heritage site has an audio tour of the ruined building and associated buildings, which is extremely interesting.

GOOD POINTS
1. Good for children – plenty to keep them occupied
2. Several sites in one little area
3. Have various events during half term/summer holidays to bring “history to life”. When we went they were holding a WW2 games session in the garden area.

BAD POINTS
1. If you are not a NT or EH member, it can get quite expensive.
2. No audio tour in the NT building, although there are plenty of guides to ask information from.

AFTERWARDS
We joined the National Trust and got our entrance fee back. It was very easy to join. They provided us with a pack of information and our copy of the form was proof of purchase (in case we wanted to visit other places before our cards arrived - which were very prompt). A handbook and loads of leaflets were included in the pack, and we received a magazine. This comes every quarter along with a newsletter for your area (in my case Midlands), which has a list of "local" events in the surrounding counties. This is very useful for planning where to visit and keep you up to date with local events/projects.

MORE INFORMATION FROM
The National Trust website www.nationaltrust.org.uk

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