Wednesday, 6 July 2011

Hardwick New Hall

Oma, visiting from South Africa, was here for her 80th birthday. We were due to have a party on the weekend so for her actual birthday we went out for a day out at Hardwick Hall.
Some Hazelnut and chocolate biscuits that we baked for the day.

Hardwick Hall is one of the most significant Elizabethan country houses in England. Hardwick is a conspicuous statement of the wealth and power of Bess of Hardwick, who was the richest woman in England after Queen Elizabeth I herself.
The photos are a bit blurry because flashes weren't allowed inside the house because the light wasn't good for all the tapestries


incomplete tapestry
Hardwick Hall also doubles up as the dark and sinister Malfoy Manor in The Deathly Hallows.
Movie bosses loved the building's huge windows and six-tower skyline.
Exterior shots were filmed from a helicopter and the film-makers photographed and measured inside to help shoot indoor scenes at the studio.
There was a Harry Potter room in the house with this signed broomstick by JK Rowling.


Cloaks to dress up in






Document room. In here were the deeds for all their land!

INCREDIBLE room!!! All those tapestries.

And just look at this table!



fancy cupboard

















Seriously though, imagine if this was your house!



Playing three billy goats gruff
Walking to the orchard



Strange statue of a woman holding a decapitated head.





Sword fights!
Trying to reach round the tree.

Hardwick old Hall

After the visiting the New Hall, we quickly went into Bess' first house which was not in the same state as the Hall that she built. Still magnificent, a bit breezy though without doors and roofs :)


It's strange to see the fireplaces in the middle of the wall a few meters off the ground.




more fireplaces

We climbed to the top. It was VERY high!



View of the new Hall through the ruins.
This view made my heart flip flop


Back down to play on the steps that were used to climb onto your horse :)