Old Cable Historic House, Kerry

Advantages: Very warm welcome, great historic house, superb gardens
Disadvantages: Limited admission times to the house

...of pure nature and silence there, or take the route through Catstocks Wood to see St Bega's Church first. Opening times are from easter to the end of October from 10 am to 5.30 pm for the gardens and the tea room (The Old Sawmill Tearoom, built in 1880, located next to the car park). Make sure you come to Mirehouse on a Wednesday or Sunday, because only on those two days and just from 2 to 4.30 pm you can actually visit the Historic House the oldest part of which was built in 1666 by the 8th Earl of Derby. In August only, entrance to the house is possible on Fridays as well (again 2 to 4.30 pm). The reason for such limited admission times is the fact, that the owners of Mirehouse (the Spedding family who have been owning Mirehouse since 1802) are still living there, and they just allow a few hours for visitors to see their home... Read review

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Advantages: Lots Of History
Disadvantages: Entrance Charges, Closed During The Winter

...The Old House Museum is a little place tucked away, high on a hillside overlooking the beautiful town of Bakewell, right in the heart of Derbyshire's Peak District. Built in 1534, during the reign of King Henry V111, this is one of the oldest surviving Buildings in Derbyshire, and thus provides a fascinating insight into local life over the past 500 years. In its early days this house belonged to the Gell family and was the home of a tax collector, known as a "tithe man." Over the next 200 years the house was extended and changed owners several times. It eventually became a farmhouse but in the late 1700's a local businessman called Richard Arkwright bought the property. He owned one of the water-powered mills in the village and was looking for suitable accommodation for his mill workers. He converted the building into Cottages... Read review

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Advantages: History so well preserved, grand, homely
Disadvantages: None at all

...in the 19th century, the 6th Duke who acquired works from international neo-classical sculptors in Rome. The library has to be one of the best private libraries to be found in the world as it has over 30,000 books including books of fine bindings over the last six centuries, a good lot of them are there due to the diligence and interest of the 6th Duke of Devonshire. I didn't visit the Archives but it is apparently a true and reliable source of learning about every day life at Chatsworth House since that formidable first dweller, Bess of Hardwick and all those who helped her and subsequent guardians of this most magnificent historic house. You cannot visit Chatsworth House without coming away hugely impressed at the collection: British and Old Masters, watercolours, portrait miniatures, sculpture, woodcarving, ceramics, gems... Read review

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