We exchanged anniversary cards before going to the breakfast room. There were interesting choices on the menu and after a bit of deliberation I settled on scrambled egg with smoked salmon. The croissant was lightly toasted, the eggs creamy and the salmon was thick rather than thinly sliced. It was delicious. Mr C, as usual, opted for the full English which was presented in a pleasing way.

We drove the short distance to Haddon Hall, arriving a few minutes before the Hall opened its sturdy door to the public. The weather was glorious despite the predicted rain. We enjoyed a couple of talks ; the history of Haddon Hall and the Manners family and an explanation of the chapel wall paintings and other features of the chapel. I found the later talk especially interesting.

After the talks, we enjoyed the hall at our leisure before entering the gardens. The gardens are always a delight but, for us on this occasion, they were enhanced by the roses being in full bloom. The sunshine made our garden walk even more enjoyable.

We had lunch in the Café at Haddon Hall where after my substantial breakfast I chose the light option of Cherry Bakewell Tart, a perfect choice for our next destination, Bakewell, where we enjoyed browsing the quaint shops. We would have liked to sample the wares of The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop but it was too soon after lunch. Maybe next time…

On our way back to The Peacock we stopped off at the nearby shopping village. I was able to purchase a lovely waterproof jacket that I had seen a few days before in a garden centre local to me but where it was not available in my size. I also succumbed to another cookbook at a bargain price, Easy Meals Every Day by Pip Payne.

It was now time to return to our hotel to chill out in our room before our anniversary treat; The Tasting Menu accompanied by the Wine Flight. The experience was wonderful with tasty dishes and perfect wine pairing. This was enhanced by the waiter serving the wine ‘blind’ and challenging us to identify the grape variety we had just been served. We were able to identify some but not all of them. On my part, I was surprised that I could; I have no sense of smell and rely on my tastebuds only.

Photo taken by Mr C

The waiter also told us that we were dining on an original Mouseman table by the English craftsman Robert Thompson whose trademark signature was a mouse carved onto his furniture pieces.

To complete the evening we took a nightcap up to our room. Happy Anniversary Mr C.

The chapel, dedicated to St Nicholas was originally the parish church of Nether Haddon. The chapel has been extended over the years and contains some of the earliest masonry in the fabric of the hall.*

The walls in the chapel display some fine fresco seccoes which would have originally have been brightly coloured. It is thought that the fresco seccoes were commissioned in the early 15th century. The paintings were whitewashed over during the reformation and there is some evidence of deliberate defacement. As part of early 20th century restoration work the 9th Duke of Rutland arranged for the paintings to be uncovered and restored.*

*From the Haddon Hall guide book

On the right hand side can be seen part of the 12 foot high wall which was built around the original buildings of Haddon Hall. A licence to build this wall was granted by the future King John in 1195 and although most of the wall survives, much of it is incorporated in subsequent buildings and it is not easily visible.

This piece is therefore one of the oldest, clearly identifiable walls in the Hall.

The licence stated that the wall should not exceed 12 feet high and should not be crenellated, being insufficient to make Haddon a fortress, and so perhaps ensuring its survival. The Hall would then have consisted of the Great Hall, the Kitchen, the Chapel and a Watch Tower.

Some 250 years later, in about 1450, five huge cantilever oak posts were added to support an open walkway along the wall from what is now the Great Chamber. Then about 100 years later, as fashions changed, the walkway was enclosed and widened by the addition of the wall on the left hand side forming the Earl’s Apartment above and creating this long narrow room.

King John’s curtain wall is built of limestone with a relatively smooth finish and designed to be seen from the side, whereas the wall on the left is built of gritstone and is roughly constructed as the side was not intended to be seen.*

*From a signboard next to the wall

As you enter the long gallery, the predominant feeling is of light and space. The many windows, south facing to make the most of the sunlight, give on to a typical Elizabethan long gallery 110 feet long and 17 feet wide. *

* From the Haddon Hall guide book

The 17th century tapestries which hand in the Great Chamber are either Flemish or French in origin. The tapestries are all that remain from the Great Chamber of a much larger collection that had remained in the hall for 200 years whilst the hall was unoccupied. The 9th Duke removed the tapestries from the hall to a room in the stable block for safety whilst restoration was taking place.

Sadly, in 1925 a fire broke out in a tea-room above the stables and approximately 60 tapestries were destroyed or damaged beyond repair.*

*From the Haddon Hall guide book

Haddon Hall has a fine example of a surviving Tudor kitchen:

Built in the 14th century, the Kitchen comprises a purely utilitarian set of rooms which originally stood apart from the other buildings to minimise the risk of fire spreading to the main house. The passageway linking the kitchen to the hall is thus a much later addition. *

The Milk Larder now houses a fine display of ‘dole’ cupboards:

These were put outside houses such as Haddon for passing traders or Estate workers, and filled with food and leftovers from the kitchen. Made in the Gothic style, this collection is very rare as these wooden cupboards were left outside and exposed to the elements. Some are originally from Haddon and others bought by the 9th Duke. The modern phrase ‘on the dole’ (receiving assistance), stems from the purpose of the ‘dole’ cupboard.*

The oak block, stands on three short legs and was doubtless used for jointing meat in preparation for salting or for catching drops from hanging meat. *

*From the Haddon Hall guidebook

Rumi

This manacle was used as a punishment for those who did not “drink fayre” – a medieval custom whereby those that did not drink their quota of ale were considered a potential threat – and the ale not consumed was poured down the offender’s sleeve. It was also used for restraining unruly revellers. *

*From a sign board next to the manacle

This would have been the communal living space when it was built in the 14th century. Both family and servants would have eaten and slept here. By the beginning of the 15th century however, the family would have begun to eat in the privacy of the Great Chamber and spend their leisure time in the Parlour which acquired the function of a private sitting room. Consequently the Great Hall became a room in which to entertain and hold social events and its name was changed to the Banqueting Hall.*

*From the Haddon Hall guide book