Built for the Harpur family in 1703, Calke Abbey has remained virtually unaltered since the death of the last baronet, Sir Vauncey Harpur Crewe in 1924. The last owner, Charles Harpur-Crewe, died suddenly in 1981, leading to crippling death duties (£8m of an estate worth £14m), and in 1985 the estate was transferred to the National Trust by his younger brother Henry Harpur-Crewe.
The National Trust presents Calke Abbey as an illustration of the English country house in decline. A massive amount of remedial work (but no restoration) has been done, so the decay of the building and its interiors has been halted, but not reversed. Before the National Trust's custody, the interior had basically remained untouched since the 1880's...
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| Gardener's Bothy |
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