"With Pomp, Power & Glory the world beckons vainly, In chase of such vanities why should I roam?While Peace & Content bless my little thatched cottage,And warm my own hearth with the Treasures of Home."*Beatrix Potter

Thursday 11 December 2014

Christmas at Gunby Hall

After lunch last Sunday we ventured out in the cold to visit Gunby Hall a beautiful Georgian National Trust house & Estate.
The weather was bitterly cold & very seasonal with frost covered trees glistening in the sun.
The house is shut up this time of year apart from a couple of weekends when it is open all decorated for Christmas.
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They welcome you with carols around the grand piano. We choose Once in Royal David City first as the children are to sing that at our Carol Service on the 16th of December at our village church.
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I love the colours & warmth in this room.
They have some beautiful old pieces of furniture dating to around 1600.
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Some of the family portraits.
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One of the two beautiful oak court cupboards in this room.
This one has the date on it.
I do love these cupboards telling of a couple's courtship, the future husband made these for his future wife.
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The hearth with warm oak panelling.
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The lovely entrance hall with a beautiful gate leg table.
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Crackers being made & present's wrapped in the library.
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This is a lovely little parlour at the end of the grand dining room.
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Sidney making a wish while he is stirring the Christmas pudding the in kitchen.
I love the below stairs rooms.
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Kitty's turn.
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The kitchen with beautiful copper pans & pewter.
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The scullery.
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A lovely range in the back kitchen.
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Old ice chests in the pantry.
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The children making paper chains in the butlers room.
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Outside in the grounds but not for long!
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Mary in the arbour which is in the formal rose garden.
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Best friends.
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Under the mistletoe.
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The chapel on the Estate.
It still holds services & weddings.
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Looking over the graves to the fields.
The grounds are very peaceful & have been untouched for many years.
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I hope you all enjoy the photo's of our visit to Gunby Hall.
We go there many times in the year watching the garden in the changing seasons.

Peace be with you all this Christmas time.

Fondly Michelle
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15 comments:

  1. A lovely tour, Michelle. It is so nice to be close enough to visit such a place during each season. In the 3rd photo I was wondering why there are what looks like ornaments sitting on the sofas and chairs.

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  2. Hello Cathy,
    Oh that happens in most National Trust houses, to stop people sitting on the old pieces of furniture they put giant seed heads on them. They look so much nicer than labels I think.
    So glad you enjoyed the tour.
    Fondly Michelle

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    1. You British are so subtle! :-) Here in America we tell people outright what not to do because otherwise they'll do what they want!!

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  3. Hello Michelle,
    Happy CHRISTmas to you!! Thank you for keeping me in the holiday spirit with all of these BEAUTIFUL images!!!
    It is so lovely to come over and experience what you share! :-)
    Sending warmth and love,
    many BLESSINGS to you and your DEAR Family, Linnie

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    1. Hello Linnie,
      Happy Christmas to you too & your family.
      So glad you enjoyed the tour.
      Fondly Michelle

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  4. Dear Michelle, me has turned out to be very interesting the tour for Gunby Hall, I am charmed with the ancient moviliario. The photo in the garden of Maria and Kitty is precious, and especially I have liked the first photo of the blog where you are united the five. Thank you for sharing these moments with all of us. That God blesses them and Happy Christmas. Mary Carmen.

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    1. Happy Christmas to you to Mary.
      So glad you enjoyed the photo's, it is a beautiful place to visit.
      Fondly Michelle

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  5. Wishing you a very happy Christmas and a delightful healthy 2015. I enjoy your blog immensely and your photos of places I can't see in person. Thank you!

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    1. I am happy you are enjoying the blog.
      Seasons Greetings.
      Fondly Michelle

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  6. Michelle, I saw your comment on Linnie's Blog about George playing with the decorations. If George is your first kitten, then you may not know that anything hanging on the tree within his reach is fair game! And, in fact, the whole tree is fair game if he's into climbing! You may want to attach a rope to the middle of the tree and anchor somewhere if the stand is not stable enough to withstand a cat climbing up to the top. :-)

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    1. Yes George is our first cat. I am hoping he will loose interest in a couple of days as he did with the small kitchen tree. I just know those baubles are going to be so tempting though! He is so cute & can't do anything wrong so it will be fine I hope.
      Fondly Michelle

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  7. How delighted I am to have found your blog through Linnie and Cathy. This is wonderful. Every book and movie on your most beloved list are the same as I would have chosen. I guess Kindred spirits all find each other eventually. The trip to Gumby Hall, delightful, since I doubt I'll ever get there in person, this is second best. Looking forward to "seeing" your 18th century cottage in future posts? Jeri

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    1. Thank you Jeri for your lovely comment, I am so pleased you enjoy my blog & the visit to Gunby Hall.
      Happy Christmas.
      Fondly Michelle

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  8. Beautiful..... Love it all.. xo

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  9. Thanks for sharing the blog so well and I hope you have something new for me to study.
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