Calke Abbey

Calke Abbey is a stately home in Derbyshire operated by the National Trust. It was the seat of the Harpur Crewe family and was known as the ‘Chatsworth’ of South Derbyshire. The family were very wealthy and at its peak, the estate employed many workers with a huge stables complex, its own fire engine, farmland, a church and a large house to run. Over time though, the money started to run out and the house began to decay around a smaller and smaller family. Interestingly, the house has been preserved in this decayed state. Look at the floors as you are walking around and you’ll see how the family withdrew to only the parts of the house with carpets. The other half of the house with un-carpeted rooms and peeling wallpaper, became storage areas for their vast collection of possessions, sometimes all piled up on top of each other.

There is still much of the character of the family in the house. They were passionate about the natural world and throughout the house there are endless display cabinets packed with stuffed animals and birds, along with shells, stones and even bones. The main room above the entrance door is a great example. In the centre is a billiard table and this room was clearly designed for entertaining with a balcony looking over the estate. As the family became more and more reclusive though, all the space in the room became surrounded by stuffed animals! On your self-guided tour, you will also see the dining room, the parlour and a beautiful library (pictured below). Beyond these rooms, there is much similarity from room to room. Each is packed with clutter, books and more stuffed animals. The only exception is the room containing an elaborate state bed from 1715 which was probably made for George 1st but was never erected. Eventually, you descend to the basement floor and explore the old kitchen.

There is much to see on the estate at Calke Abbey. We loved the huge walled gardens here which are a short walk away from the house, hidden by trees. Here you’ll find a a central gardener’s workshop/house surrounded by individual gardens. There’s a stunning entrance way to the house at the right time of year when the Wisteria is in flower (see below). There’s a formal garden on one side and a massive kitchen garden on the other. At the rear of the gardener’s workshop is a fully restored orangery with exotic plants and a gorgeous domed skylight. Only half of the gardens area is currently maintained but you can imagine just how much work it would have been and how many people it would have taken to keep the gardens functioning.

Not far from the gardens is the estate church which is well worth popping in to. It’s still a peaceful place to relax even on a day where Calke is packed with visitors. There’s something else that Calke Abbey has which makes it distinctive and it’s something our little boy loves to do when we visit. Calke has two underground tunnels to explore. One runs from the gardens down to the Grotto and was designed to allow the gardeners to go to their lodgings without being seen by the family. The other (pictured below) is longer and runs under the house, leading to the stables complex where you emerge at the old brewery. Take this tunnel when you are returning to your car. It’s an eerie experience and sometimes the tunnel is decorated.

Calke Abbey also has a woodland area called Calke Explore. It’s accessed from a turning on the main drive, so you need to call in on the way to the house if you’d live to visit. Here you’ll find a woodland inspired adventure playground for children including a giant badger set which the kids can run through. There are also outdoor café facilities here. Calke Abbey estate is open all year round, but the house is generally closed in the winter months. House opening times also vary depending on the time of year. Adult admission to the park and gardens is £7.50 plus an additional £12.50 to access the house if it is open (2024 prices) Admission is free for National Trust members.

LOCATION & MAP

Address: Calke Abbey, Ticknall, Derby, Derbyshire DE73 7JF
Phone: +44 1332 863822
Email: calkeabbey@nationaltrust.org.uk

The entrance to Calke Abbey is located in the village of Ticknall, There is a pay station at the top of the drive. Vehicles leave the site by another road which comes out near Staunton Harold Reservoir.