London Day 13... June 9th

Day 15...



Hardwick Hall and Haddon Hall… We hit up two of them today, and let me tell you… it was exhausting!!! Especially sense I had to be ready by 530 am!!! Strangely enough though I had a lot of energy… we travel back to chesterfield like we did on Tuesday but this time we had some slight difficulties with our train ride… being that only 5 of us got off the train on the correct stop… Everyone claims that the doors wouldn’t open, but I’m not sure about that!!! But while we waited for the rest of our group, the sun was coming out slightly so Phil and Changmok laid in the middle of the sidewalk and sun bathed J The looks people gave them were so funny, plus I kept hearing people make some of the strangest comments because Phil was like the only black guy there and he was laying in the middle of the sidewalk by the taxi pick up.



Standing where part of
Princess Bride was filmed
Haddon Hall



Haddon Hall



When everyone finally arrived, we got on the tour bus and traveled over to Haddon Hall. Pulling up to it, I could barely see it; it’s behind a wall and over a hill, and past a bridge. Our tour guide had us look through some hedges over to the Dove Coat, a building used to capture all the doves. As our tour went on, we walked up the stairs to the peasants’ entrance, which lead to the center courtyard. I found out that the move Princess Bride was filmed here along with Pride & Prejudice. Of course I had to take pictures of the parts of the house shown in Princess Bride, considering I really love that movie. The ground in the entire house was extremely uneven from the wear and tear of people living there and touring the house over the years.



Hardwick Hall



Hardwick Ruins

Hardwick was a completely different experience. The original was destroyed, so there is a second that was built right next to it. The ruins of the first are still here. Mostly just the exterior stone walls and some of the plaster details where the fire place was and around some of the molding areas, but other than that, the grass was growing where the floor was. The second structure that was built in place of the destroyed, had similar plaster work throughout. The interior floors had very similar wear and tear as Haddon Hall, but there is more space and had more of the rooms and décor restored. One room had a game table with games like Othello and cards carved and painted into it. The house is surrounded by a hedge and stone wall with one of the most incredible views I have seen in England so far!



The amazing view at
Hardwick Hall

~Spectacular Views~

Elyse