H & H

A cute house with a matching cloud

Today was a fun filled day! First we went to Haddon Hall and following that we went to Hardwick Hall. The day started off great when we woke up bright and early at 6:45. Usually I am not a morning person but being in Europe has changed that for me. After we were all situated on the train we were able to do whatever like usual. And just as usual it was nap time for the majority of us. When we arrived at our destination we somehow managed to get stuck on the train and miss the stop because the doors wouldn't open for us. So that was a great way to start off the day.

The day quickly turned around when we arrived at Haddon Hall. This is such a beautiful residence. It was really cool to hear about all the movies that have been filmed there like Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre and the Princess Bride. I was able to see some places where the famous scenes from these movies were filmed which was pretty exciting. The set up was gorgeous. I loved the flowers and the vines. I also though that it was interesting to hear about how they lived back in the 11th century.

The Archway from the famous scene in Princess Bride

Haddon Hall

Haddon Hall

After going to Haddon Hall we made it to Hardwick Hall which was so amazing! First we were able to see the original house and the remains of it which were so cool. To put it in perspective it was like Stone Henge on steroids.

Old Hardwick Hall 

After seeing the older portion we went on to the newer building that has been restored. If you look at the detailing on Hardwick Hall you will notice the initials of ES and that stands for Elizabeth Shrewsbury who lived on the estate and thought highly of herself. I really enjoyed looking inside this house. There was so many interesting elements. One that was really unique was the floor which was an exact replica of what Elizabeth would have originally had in the house. It was a woven carpet of the reeds from the pond which I think is fascinating it shows that inspiration can come from anywhere and that an item that most people consider to be nothing can be made into anything. To me that is what designing is all about.

In the end Hardwick Hall was so amazing it brought one of the earliest examples of the Renaissance in England to life for me.