Calke Abbey a National Trust stately home and estate in Derbyshire is our first destination today. It’s in the general direction of home.

The Abbey has been maintained in a deliberately dilapidated condition as an example of the many grand houses that fell into decline in the 20th century. Some rooms are gently restored but lots are basically left abandoned and full of dust and grime. The house and rooms are chock full of taxidermy of birds and animals and objects amassed by its owners over the years so it’s an interesting wander around. There are fabulous Chinese silk state bed hangings which were hidden for found over 200 years and are beautifully colourful and vibrant even in the dim lighting.

The Stables are huge, horses were bred and raced and ridden here over the centuries. One horse called Squirt was the grandsire of Eclipse the founder of a famous breed line that included horses like Copenhagen, ridden by Wellington at the battle of Waterloo, Shergar, Red Rum, Frankie, Desert Orchid and Seabiscuit!

After a quick lunch of the remainder of the tasty Melton Mowbray pork pie in the van, we head towards Leek and a small CL site which we have booked into for a couple of nights. After catching up on my blog and a cuppa or two we decide to wander down into the town.

A drink in the unusual Blug Mugge pub sitting in the Winston Churchill room surrounded by paintings and memorabilia and then one in The Fountain’s Inn which obviously has a lively music scene which tonight we can hear escaping from a meeting room, we order a Chinese takeaway and hop in a cab back up the hill so it’s still warm to eat.

Only a little TV before we drop off.

An interesting day.

23:03:26