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Haddon Hall, Derbyshire

 

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Haddon Hall, like many historical survivors, owes its longevity partly to someone willing to preserve it, and also to a long period of neglect. Originally built as a fortified manor house in the eleventh century, Haddon Hall belonged to the Vernon family, and then passed by marriage to the powerful Manners family. In 1703 John Manners, 9th Earl of Rutland left Haddon Hall, and went to live at the Manners family seat at Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire. A long period of neglect followed for Haddon Hall. For over two hundred years it lay in a kind of suspended animation in an almost unaltered sixteenth century condition. A lesser house would have fallen down, but this was a strong stone built, fortified manor house. The empty house endured through the centuries until the 1920s when the 9th Duke of Rutland visited his long forgotten family property and realised how important it was. With the help of a restoration expert named Harold Brakspear the building was restored, not as a building representing a single time period, but more as a building that had accreted layers like sedimentary rock over long periods of time. There are small sections that date to the eleventh century, but there are also parts of the building which date to rebuilding between the thirteenth and early seventeenth centuries.

With Haddon Hall illustrating a long period in history it is fitting that the house is often used as a film location for historical film and drama. Haddon Hall has been used for The Princess Bride (1986), Jane Eyre (1996), Elizabeth (1999), and Pride and Prejudice (2005).

There is a restaurant and shop.

 

 

Opening Times: March 30th to April 30th and during October open Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 12 midday to 5pm, last admission 4pm. Open 6th to 10th April.

Open daily from May to September but closed June 3rd.

Open 5th to 19th December 10.30am - 4pm, last admission 3.30pm.

Directions: Haddon Hall is just outside Bakewell, off the A6 in Derbyshire. Click here for an interactive map centred on Haddon Hall.

Address: Haddon Hall, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1LA

Access: Access for wheelchairs is poor. Ring ahead to discuss needs.

Contact:

telephone: 01629 812855

e-mail: info@haddonhall.co.uk

web site: http://www.haddonhall.co.uk/home.htm

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