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Meet the Neighbours - Trentham Gardens #83

...time the Italian Renaissance was all the rage so Brown’s sweeping lawns were transformed back into formal terraced garden rooms.  Fountains, balustrading, clipped topiary and sculptures were the new look now – all this change must have kept the gardeners busy!  The lakes were given an ‘Italian Lakes’ makeover with four islands being added along with balustrading and boat tunnels.  Some of the trees still standing are hundreds of years old and are certainly a ‘must-see’ if you ever manage to visit. During the early part of the 20th century the Duke of Sutherland offered the house to the local Council so it could be used as an institute of higher...

Rags to Riches #12

...RAGS TO RICHES:     My family originated from Derby and my parents were married there in July 1952.  Mum was 19 and dad was 36 so quite a bit older.  They both lived in Derby and were very arty; my dad went to the Derby Sketching Club in his free time and my mum attended art college.  I’m not sure where they met but it was either at something art related or at a dance, as was usual in those days.  My dad was a sculptor by trade; I think his interest was sparked by seeing all the beautiful alabaster in Italian churches during the war.  After the war he set up his own business making alabaster lamps, bowls and candlesticks among other things (see header...

Rags to Riches #14

...Before we moved to Hoar Cross Hall in Staffordshire we lived in Derbyshire.  My family originated from Derby and my parents were married there in July 1952. Mum was 19 and dad was 36 so quite a bit older. They both lived in Derby and were very arty; my dad went to the Derby Sketching Club in his free time and my mum attended art college. I’m not sure where they met but it was either at something art related or at a dance, as was usual in those days. My dad was a sculptor by trade; I think his interest was sparked by seeing all the beautiful alabaster in Italian churches during the war. After the war he set up his own business making alabaster lamps, bowls and...

Queen Alexandra - my family #50

...ad of the Italian Red Cross nurses and spent much of her time near the front line. She is known for greatly improving sanitary conditions in the military hospitals and was awarded the Italian Silver Medal for Bravery. She also won many other medals during the war and wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty despite her privileged background.    The terrace at Sandringham  Here is a view along the terrace at Sandringham House, the country estate bought by King Edward VII in 1862 whilst still the Prince of Wales, a year before he was married to Alexandra. They rebuilt the house in 1870 as they found it to be too small! His son and grandson both loved the house...

Bacon's 'Essay on Gardens' # 56

...lled the 'Italian Gardens' and are centred with a fountain on each side (see header picture) as are the lower gardens which are accessed through the Elizabethan gateway halfway down. This gateway was brought from Temple Newsam, another of Emily's inherited estates, along with other walls and gateways dotted around the grounds. Under the lower terrace are huge water tanks which fill the fountains and which we found one day whilst lifting an iron trapdoor found under the overgrown walkway! The drop to the water was a few feet (about one metre) and we had no idea how deep the water was so the cover was put back and we left them alone! The Colonel's dog admires t...

RAGS TO RICHES! #15

...RAGS TO RICHES:  My parents were married in Derby in July 1952.  Mum was 19 and dad was 36 so quite a bit older.  They both lived in Derby and were very arty; my dad went to the Derby Sketching Club in his free time and my mum attended art college.  I’m not sure where they met but it was either at something art related or at a dance, as was usual in those days.  My dad was a sculptor by trade; I think his interest was sparked by seeing all the beautiful alabaster in Italian churches during the war.  After the war he set up his own business making alabaster lamps, bowls and candlesticks among other things (see header picture).  He would go to the alabast...