Calke Abbey: Discovering Connections

Calke Abbey tells the story of the dramatic decline of the Harpur-Crewe's grand country house. Little has been done to restore the house and stables and they are preserved in the condition found when the National Trust began caring for Calke. Grand rooms are crammed full of collections, from art to natural history, which contrasts with abandoned rooms and objects no longer used. The stables have overgrown courtyards and peeling paintwork and are great for exploring.

The gardens are full of flowers, plants and produce throughout the year. Faded garden buildings such as the orangery and the rare auricula theatre, hint at the former fortunes and passions of the family. The pleasure grounds are great for strolls; stumble across the grotto and the ice house, or find a spot for a peaceful picnic.

Discover the ancient and fragile habitats of Calke Park and its National Nature Reserve, a haven for wildlife. Adventures await at Calke Explore, where you'll find natural play, walking and cycle hire, and easy access to the Limeyards and wetlands. With ancient trees, woodland, ponds and meadows, there's plenty of parkland to explore.

The Riding School will host a day of Discovering Connections from 10am to 3pm. Do you have a Calke Abbey connection? Does your family have a special memory of Calke or are you new to Calke and want to discover more? Join us in the Riding School for a day of talks, resources and family-friendly activities.

Timings & Tours

Saturday 14 September:

1000-1500 in the Riding School

Location & directions

Calke Abbey, Ticknall, Derby, Derbyshire, DE73 7LE

Contact on day:

Ticket Office 01332 695329

Telephone number:

+441332695329

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

The Riding School is fully accessible via the back doors, and the surface within the building is flat. There is a buggy available to take visitors with mobility issues to the Mansion and gardens. There are also 3 trampers available, please call the main number to book. To note booking is on a first come, first served basis. There are a number of stairs in the Mansion, wheelchairs are available and visitors who can't access the stairs can view a virtual tour of the house. You can also enjoy an audio described tour of the Abbey and grounds on your visit: https://vocaleyes.co.uk/audio-clip/calke-abbey-audio-described-guide/

Additional information

For visitors who would like to visit the Mansion, there may be a queue outside the front of the Mansion at busier times.

Max no of people per tour:

200

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