We visited Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire, UK, this morning, which is a National Trust property. The building was designed by architect Robert Adam and commissioned in the 1750s by Nathaniel Curzon, whose ancestors have lived at the Hall since the 12th century. SourceIn the 1970s, it was transferred to the National Trust as the family couldn't afford to maintain it. Normally, it closes over winter as conservation work takes place. This year, even though that will continue, they decided to keep a few rooms open for visitors.
It was free entry for National Trust members, but for non - members, it was 拢16.50. A bit steep, I thought. Once inside, volunteer guides tell visitors all about each room they enter. Most guides are fine, but some can be overzealous or pompous. As soon as I entered the main hall, a guide asked me if my boots were clean. I'd just wiped them on the mat so they were as clean as possible.
The first thing you see is the Marble Hall, which is quite grand and not dissimilar to my own home. 馃槄
I did like the mahogany writing table with its 48 drawers, some of them hidden.
The guide in this room informed me it was originally the main housekeeper's room, but she was ousted by the family to make it into a billiard room. She then had to share a room with the rest of the staff. That's a good way to treat your best staff ... not!
A touch of vertigo came over me coming down the stairs, although I did like the colour scheme. I'm sure I had the same colour in my bathroom once. I bet this paint didn't come from Wilkos.
On the ground floor was a Museum of Asian artefacts.
I liked the blue room, it was quite pretty.
The hall was actually designed more for extravagant entertaining, a place to display paintings, sculptures, and furnishings rather than a family home, and you can tell. Even though I found how the other half lived very interesting, I couldn't help but think of how unfair it was to live so opulently when others had barely anything. It's not changed much today. Oh hum ....
