A Visit to Calke Abbey

I had a day out with a friend yesterday and we decided to visit Calke Abbey in Derbyshire. We've been quite a few times before and there is always something to see and do there. When you enter this National Trust property you drive along the most beautiful Lime Avenue - 82 saplings were planted in 1846 to commemorate the birth of Sir Vauncey Harpur. I saw my first lambs of the year along this stretch - unfortunately, it is not very easy to stop and take photos.

We started off by having an early lunch of pea soup and a roll (I was good for once and resisted the temptation of cake!). The soup was the best I have ever had in a NT tea-room.


Calke Abbey is described by the National Trust as an "un-stately home". It tells the story of the dramatic decline of a country house estate. The house and stables have had little restoration and you can see peeling paintwork and overgrown courtyards.

We didn't go in the house this time although at some stage I would really like to have another look round as it is stuffed with treasure and curiosities. The grassland either side of the path that leads to the gardens was covered in Cowslips and Dandelions.

Lesser Celandine and Primroses still flowering outside the walled gardens.

"Plants in Walls" - this time a Foxglove has taken root.

The present walled kitchen, physic and flower gardens were built and developed b Sir Harry Harpur.

The flower garden was full of tulips and wallflowers.

The Auricula Theatre was built in 1830 and contains different flower displays depending on the season. At present it contains pots of violas, daffodils, hellebores and grape hyacinths.

I am not sure what plant this is - it was climbing all over a wall with the clematis - but it smelt delightful.

The Vegetable and Physic Garden

"Plants in Walls" - the inevitable Ivy-leaved Toadflax.

It was a lovely day out and thanks to J for her company.

Calke Abbey

I had a day out yesterday at Calke Abbey with a friend as an early celebration of her birthday early in April.

The first highlight was my first butterfly sighting of the year in her garden - a Small Tortoiseshell.

Calke Abbey is described by the National Trust as "The Un-Stately Home". The Abbey tells the story of the dramatic decline of a country house estate earlier in the Twentieth Century. Only essential repairs have been carried out and there is much peeling paintwork and overgrown courtyards around the house and stables.

We had an early lunch of leek and potato soup and a roll followed by a slice of fruit loaf and then walked down to the house.

You can see how busy it was - Easter School holidays and a sunny day had brought out the crowds.

It was much quieter in the Walled Gardens :)

Located in the north-west corner of the Flower Garden is the Auricula Theatre built in 1830. There were no auriculas on display yet but instead a selection of pansies, daffodils, hellebores and grape hyacinths.

The geometrically shaped flower-beds are characteristic of the early Victorian period.

The Fernery

The Kitchen Garden covers 4 acres.

Mosses and lichens in the wall surrounding the garden.

The inevitable Ivy-leaved Toadflax

I resisted the temptation of delights in the National Trust shop but did treat myself to an Allium and Ladybird Poppy from the plant area.


I do like Calke Abbey - you could spend several days exploring. The house has a vast collection of treasures, the church is interesting and there is a deer park. Calke Park itself is a National Nature Reserve being a haven for ancient trees and wildlife. Nine species of bats and over 350 species of beetle have been recorded. Am hoping to pay another visit soon and perhaps re-visit the house interior as I haven't been inside for some years and also go in search of The Old Man of Calke.