Hardwick Old Hall

Advantages: Historical, interesting, great views
Disadvantages: Not a huge amount to see

...A couple of weeks ago Mr Tart and I headed for the Peak District to visit his family. As a big fan of all things old I wanted to visit some sort of historical site as my part of the weekend (don?t worry, her got a 7 mile walk out of me for his part!). I?d always wanted to visit Hardwick Hall, especially as the Tudors is one of my favourite historical periods and was very happy to hear it was so close to where we were staying. SOME HISTORY: I doubt if many people will have heard of Hardwick Old Hall. I certainly hadn?t and I like to think I?m quite a bore when it comes to these sorts of things! The Hall was built by Bess of Hardwick (Elizabeth, Countess Shrewsbury) between 1587 and 1596. Bess was one of the foremost women of the Elizabethan age and managed to get through four husbands on her way up the social ladder. Bess was...

tartlette83 11.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Hardwick Old Hall, Derbyshire

The other Hardwick Hall

Advantages: Lots of history, wonderful view
Disadvantages: Only a ruin, admission charges

...In my ignorance I didn't even realise that there was an Old Hardwick Hall and I only discovered it when I visited the other Hardwick Hall during a National Heritage Open Day in September 2008. The two places are obviously linked but they are not to be confused. The other Hardwick Hall being in the care of The National Trust and its older neighbour, Old Hardwick Hall being in the hands of English Heritage. Many people will know of Hardwick Hall as the grand country house that Bess of Hardwick had built for herself during the latter part of the 16th century. By the time the "new" Hardwick Hall was built in 1597 Bess was the second wealthiest woman in Britain, after Queen Elizabeth 1. The Old Hall is perhaps surprisingly not all that much older than the other house. It was built around 1580 and was Bess's first attempt at building...

micksheff 28.11.2008 · Read review
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Review of Hardwick Old Hall, Derbyshire

Hard to beat, Hardwick Hall.

Advantages: Amazing Hall, beautiful gardens, whole day visit.
Disadvantages: Do not trust Sat Nav to take you to the right entrance!

...Hardwick Hall, maintained by The National Trust, is one of the most impressive Tudor houses in all England, well this is what the guidebooks say, and I have to agree. Although I have only visited once and it was raining or dull for most of the day, the place sparked my imagination and captured my history-loving heart. Built in the late 16th Century, it is one of the earliest examples of the renaissance style. The architect, Robert Smythson also designed the wonderful Longleat House in Wiltshire. Hardwick sits at the end of a long driveway, high on a hill, looking out over the stunning Derbyshire countryside. The first view of the house is from the car park at the side, yet even from this position there is a sense of the dramatic history about to be discovered. At the front, from the gates, can be seen Hardwick Old Hall, now...

No_added_sugar 31.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire

Hardwick Hall, more glass than wall!

Advantages: A fascinating and magnificent building.
Disadvantages: An expensive day out!

...When most people think of stately homes in Derbyshire, they generally think of Chatsworth House. In my quest to put some of the others on the map I am working my way through some of the Castles and houses that you will find in my local area. I have done Bolsover Castle and Haddon Hall and the next on my list is Hardwick Hall. WHERE IS HARDWICK HALL? Hardwick is located around 6.5 miles west of Mansfield and 9.5 miles south east of Chesterfield, in Derbyshire. To get there via the M1 you need to leave at junction 29 and head onto the A6175 - the Hall is signposted via brown tourist signs. Unfortunately the public transport links to Hardwick aren't great at all - the nearest railway stop is at Chesterfield and the nearest bus (the Pronto service between Chesterfield and Nottingham) stops at nearby Glapwell, but you still have...

tange 25.03.2008 · Read review
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Review of Hardwick (England)

Hardwick Hall and Stainsby Mill

Advantages: Magnificent Elizabethan House and Gardens, attractive water-driven flour mill
Disadvantages: sometimes quite crowded

...If you like historic houses and gardens, then this is something for you. You will find there two historic houses (The Old Hall, The New Hall), pretty gardens, a large park with ponds, and Stainsby Mill, a water-powered flour mill. HOW TO GET THERE Hardwick is located in Derbyshire, close to the M1 between Nottingham and Sheffield. Leave the M1 at junction 29 and follow the brown signs. By bus, you can take Cosy Coaches C1 from Chesterfield train and bus stations (Sunday, June to August only), or Stagecoach East Midland 737, 747 Sheffield / Chesterfield - Nottingham. A BRIEF HISTORY Bess of Hardwick, the indomitable Elizabethan who was married four times and multipled her wealth with each marriage, was born here. After she had built Chatsworth (a great Renaissance palace) she decided to abandon her third husband...

Michael-S 16.07.2001 · Read review
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Review of Hardwick (England)

Halls Soothers

Advantages: Taste nice, soothe a throat
Disadvantages: No medicine

...It's that time of year again, winter!! and to start it off I have a cold so this morning at the station I bought my favourite pack of cough sweet, Halls Soothers. Each packet was £0.65 but this was a station and I know you can get them cheaper in places like Boots etc. Halls are quite an impressive company. According to their website they account for more than 50% of international cough drop sales and their Halls Soothers range is the UK's number 1 medicated confectionery product. Halls was actually started by two brothers, The Hall Brothers in 1893 and originally they produced soap and jams. They then moved into confectionery and in the 1930's invented the popular mentho-lyptus which is the basis of most of their cough drops now. Halls Soothers are basically hard fruit sweets (boiled sweets) with a refreshing liquid centre. From...

Spottydog11 23.10.2008 · Read review
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Review of Halls Soothers Peach & Raspberry

Eyam Hall

Advantages: Historical feast of beauty
Disadvantages: none

...Eyam Hall is situated in the small village of Eyam, (pronounced Eem) in Derbyshire, it can be found nestled behind an 8 foot stone wall, opposite the 'old stocks' on the village green. How to get there?.? You can reach Eyam via theA623 from Stoney Middleton, or the B6521 from Sheffield. There is also a bus which takes you to the village centre. The 66 Chesterfield-Buxton, the X67 bus from Chesterfield. , the 65 bus from Sheffield and the 173 bus from Bakewell. When is it open?? It is open Easter Sunday and Easter Monday 12:00 until 6:00 pm and spring bank holiday Sunday/Monday from 12:00 until 6:00 pm. Also, from the 2nd July until 31st August it is open on Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursday, (including Bank Holiday Mondays) from 12:00 until 6:00 pm. The craft shop being open daily. The entrance cost? Gardens...

blissman70 08.04.2008 · Read review
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Review of Eyam Hall, Derbyshire

Hollins Hall for a pleasant stay!

Advantages: *
Disadvantages: *

...the same. The lockers were large enough for me to share one with my mam (and also my niece, one day when my sister didn?t go swimming) so we found we only needed to take £1. The lockers also had space to hang your clothes too. There were toilets and showers in the changing area as well as a machine to spin the water out of the swimming costumes, which worked very well. I didn?t know what it was at first but my dad told us about the one in the male changing area so I went back into the ladies and used it. Checkout Checkout was smooth and easy and we had no problems. Cost The room prices vary depending on the room type and when you go but they start from around £89.00 per night. It?s worth looking on the website or ringing up to see when they have offers on though. Other Hollins Hall is located in Yorkshire about 27 miles...

bluejules 02.09.2009 (05.09.2009) · Read review
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Review of Hollins Hall Marriott Hotel and Country Club, Bradford

Whirlowbrook Hall, Sheffield

Advantages: Lovely setting
Disadvantages: Cafe is expensive

...Whirlowbrook Hall is located about 5 miles to the west of Sheffield city centre, close to the county border of Derbyshire and on the edge of the Peak District National Park. It was built in 1906 as the family home of Sir Walter Benton-Jones, a leading industrialist in the city. Today, Whirlowbrook Hall is one of the premier venues in the region for weddings, conferences, banquets and meetings. Within the building there are numerous different rooms that can be hired out for these private functions. The venue now also holds a civil marriage license so it is possible to get married here in addition to holding your function here afterwards. The various rooms range dramatically in size. A few years ago I worked for a company that hired out the Music Room on several occasions for its senior staff meetings and this is when I first became...

micksheff 15.02.2008 · Read review
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Review of Whirlowbrook Hall, Sheffield

The Piece Hall, Halifax

Advantages: Lots of history
Disadvantages: Only about 20 shops in total

...250 years ago the West Yorkshire town of Halifax was at the centre of the textile trade. A few decades later textile mills would spring up all along the valley in which Halifax sits but back in the 1770's most of the cloth was made in the local people's houses on handlooms. The Piece Hall opened in 1779 as a place where these traders could meet and trade their cloth. It was built to replace a smaller building called The Cloth Hall. Today The Piece Hall is a Grade 1 listed building. It stands in the heart of town centre and is now used largely as a shopping complex. I was in Halifax yesterday and The Piece Hall was one of the places that I wanted to see. I easily found the main entrance as it is clearly sign posted from everywhere within the town centre but upon arrival I was greeted by the not quite so quite imposing entrance to...

micksheff 21.12.2008 · Read review
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Review of The Piece Hall - Halifax