Shipley Hall

As promised, more today from our recent jaunt around what remains of Shipley Hall. Originally built in 1700, this grand hall was once the residence of the Miller-Mundy family and was surrounded by stylish, Italianate gardens.

Coal mining became the main income for the estate and the family started to run the local mines in 1765 - and they were very successful, making enough money to have the hall rebuilt in 1799 and the grounds laid out by William Emes who followed the workings of the rather more famous 'Capability' Brown. There was once a grand glass corridor running down what is now just a paved slope...

Even though the hall has long gone, the grounds are still rather nice and well looked after by Derbyshire District Council. This Beautiful Potentilla was popular with the bees...

as was this pale Wisteria...

and this Cotoneaster.

Around the hill, the sun was shining through these lovely Horse Chestnuts.

Eventually, the hall fell into disrepair and was demolished - ironically, due to subsidence from the very coal mining that provided the money for it in the first place. But thankfully, it has now become a beautiful place to take a stroll.