Calke Abbey

The National Trust describe Calke as a "memorial to the many English country houses that disappeared during the 20th century", Calke Abbey clearly used to be an awsome house but its past glory has since become foggotten and the house neglected by its previous owners. Now the National Trust are trying to preserve the house for generations to come. I went to Calke this summer using my Walkers Brit Trip Vouchers (sadly Walkers arn't doing them this year). This is definately the strangest stately home i have ever been in. There are stuffed animals absolutely everywhere! Floor to ceiling! The eccentric owners really do have a thing for taxidermy. Besides ...  Read the complete review

I have had a passion for stately homes and historic buildings for as long as I can remember. When I was young and other children would beg to be taken to theme parks for their summer holiday treat it was a formality that I would ask for a trip to Castle Howard. If you are like me, you will probably have a very set view of the traditional stately home. Grand houses such as Castle Howard and Chatsworth House often spring to the imagination as the typical open stately home complete with grand architecture, finery and pristine gardens. With this image Calke Abbey isn't so much a stately home as a home in a state. This is not to say the National Trust has ...  Read the complete review