As promised here are some more pictures from the walk I took last week. Today I am going to show you the village of Edensor, which is pronounced ‘Ensor’. It is set in parkland that surrounds Chatsworth House which is owned by the Devonshire family, whose stately home is only short walk away.
Originally the village of Edensor was much closer to Chatsworth House but the fouth Duke of Devonshire had it removed because he didn’t want to look out of his window and see the houses. The tenants were re-housed in the nearby estate villages of Pilsley and Beeley. It was The sixth Duke who eventually completed the dismantling of the old village and built the present one. There is just one house and garden left from the original village and it is believed that this was spared because the tenant was an elderly man who did not want to move and the duke in an act of kindness allowed him to stay. The house that is left is behind the hill that hides the new village so I don’t think there is much chance that anyone from the big house can have their day ruined by seeing it when the curtains are drawn back on a morning.
It is thought that when the different plans for the new village were shown to the Duke he was busy with other matters (killing Pheasants no doubt) and that after quickly looking through the different designs could not make up his mind and so chose all the different styles that were on offer. The designs ranging from Norman to Jacobean, Swiss-style to Italian villas are all here at Edensor.
There are many interesting things on offer in Edensor one of which can be found in the churchyard where at the top of which can be found the grave of Kathleen Kennedy, the sister of the late President of the USA. She was married to William Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington, the eldest son and heir of the 10th Duke of Devonshire on May 6, 1944. Her husband was killed in action only four months later in World War 2. Only four years later his wife was killed in an air crash. In June, 1963, John F Kennedy, the President of the United States visited the grave -- five months before being assassinated
In the bottom left corner of this picture you can just see the wall of the garden of the only remaining house left from the original village of Edensor.
The view from the top of the village looking back towards the parkland.
13 comments:
The pics are beautiful. Looks like a great place. And such a rich history. I love learning about it. Great post!
I really love these pictures, Bob. How I wish I could see this area.
Thank you so much for sharing them.
Elaine in Canada
Hi Rob
do they still serve soup and snacks in the little post office in Edensor?
love to walk from Calton Lees round past the garden centre and up to the Swiss cottage then over round the back dropping down into Edensor village and back through the park by the river
Jane
Edensor is quite beautiful...the stone the greenery the architecture the sheep the views. Enchanting!
Love, love, love the photos. I dream of walking through the town one day.
What interesting stories you have to tell us about Edensor. Fascinating how a whole town can be unbuilt and rebuilt based on a powerful person's whimsy.
What lovely pictures!! Thanks for sharing :)
Wyatt and Stanzie
The scenery there looks really good. You live in a place full of history! :)
Interesting post Rob- sad that one family could dismantle a whole village just like that though. Lovely gentle countryside. Perhaps next time we are driving south we should take a detour- have looked it up on the map ;)
Hi Rob, did you post a while back about trimming or pruning blackberry bushes that you have grow up a wall?
I am curious to read it again but can't quite find it on your blog. Can you help me find it? -Lou
Such a facinating piece you have written.
Thanks too for the lovely photos - those darling lambs, oh my.
Should you ever choose to give up gardening, you would certainly have a future as a travel writer and photographer. Thanks again for taking us on such an enlightening and special tour.
reply at the comment at my blog:
I like reunion because at least you can atempt to catch up with all mates. but at the same time it can be really awkward. maybe that's why so few people turned up. LOL. :)
P.s.// Happy St. Patrick's Day!
What a beautiful country you have...such history all around you. Makes my country look like such a baby in terms of years.
Thank you for sharing...just lovely.
Kimmie
Some lovely photos of a truly unique village.
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