family days out: chasing history in kedleston hall
Kedleston Hall is 1760s Neo-classical mansion surrounded by acres of pastures and woodland in the heart of MIdlands near Derby. Designed by the famous Robert Adam this place where at times neoclassical meets Roman style is a gem for architectural fans and as it was used to film the Duchess starred by Keira Knightley also a must-visit site for movie fans.
Even without those factors, this house has an interesting history, having been lived by the Curzon family since the 12th century (to date) and is most impressive on its own, but when you add to that allure walks on the estate, a church next to the mansion, sheep, cows and occasional deers for the young ones to spot (not to forget a treasure hunt around the estate), there is something for everyone throughout the year to enjoy here.
For my daughter the most fascinating part was the winter restoration event as experts on site were ready to explain how the fabrics, china and furniture are taken care of, and how the restoration process can keep them in top share for another couple of hundred years or so.
Also, typical to upper class of past centuries, the family has travelled extensively and there is a collection of fascinating artifacts from around the world from elaborate elephant saddles to birds of paradise headdresses – which are also great for the children to learn from.
Our family has a sort of set agenda for these mansion and palace visits: we normally first visit the house, then the gardens and other buildings on site, followed by a walk around the estate and a cream tea or lunch in the restaurant.
