MAGPIE MINE.

Magpie mine - a former Derbyshire Peak District lead mine. The magpie mine, just south of Sheldon, was one of the most famous lead mines in the Derbyshire Peak district and was worked until the 1950`s. Many of the buildings still stand. The mine is in the care of the Peak District Mines Historical Society since 1962. You can see the buildings from the Bakewell - Chelmorton road. In fact you can get to the mine on foot by walking across two fields. But on the day we where there, walking across the two fields was a no - no, in the field was a bull, and having a past experience with a bull, which was extremely frightening I did not attempt to get any nearer. Hence the pictures where taken from a distance. The mine is at the junction of the magpie vein, the bole vein and the butts vein, and was only one of several mines exploiting these veins - the Red Soil Mine and the Maypitts mine lay within only a few hundred metres of the Magpie mine. The mine is first recorded in 1795, though the workings are probably much older. It finally ceased operations in 1958. The heyday of the mine was in the mid 19th century. The buildings still visible are enough to be able to construct a picture of what an 19th century leadmine must have looked like.

 

 

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RUFFORD ABBEY COUNTRY PARK.

The country park is 150 acres in size comprising historic parkland, woodland and gardens in the north Nottinghamshire area known as the Dukeries. This varied park includes the ruins of a medieval monastery ( which I have already covered in my previous blog ), a contemporary craft centre, gardens, woodland walks, children's play village, sculpture trail and a lake.

 

VIEWS OF THE PARK.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SCULPTURES IN THE PARK.

 

The Modern Sculpture.

 

The goddess Diana is represented by the bust on the stone podium. The temple structure representing the shrine, has been decorated with hand made ceramic pieces, using motifs copied from actual tiles found at Nemi. In roman times pottery tiles and plaques were used to decorate houses and public buildings. Inside the temple is a set  of infinity mirrors. Peep into the glass - covered slots on the side of the temple and you will see small replicas of votive objects that the artist has hidden inside.

 

 

 

The Temple.

 

 

Goddess Diana Bust.

 

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MORE SCULPTURES IN THE PARK.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Roman Lamp styled orangery fountain.

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There are a lot of these stone carvings all over the park.

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Dragon gateway to the children's play village.

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CEDAR TREE.

 

This cedar tree is one of many historic trees at Rufford Abbey country park and is thought to date from the late 1600`s. The tree is fenced off because of falling branches. The trunk of the tree has become hollow. Local legend says that it was planted by King Charles II in memory of his father ( Charles I ) who was beheaded after the English Civil War. The story tells its top was removed in memory of this event, and trimmed each year on 19th November the birthday of King Charles I.

 

 

 

 

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Another beautiful tree in the park.

 

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RUFFORD ABBEY.

This blog about Rufford Abbey is a bit long but I thought it best to do it all at once instead of in two parts .Remains of a Cistercian monastery and later a country house in Rufford , Nottinghamshire, England, some two miles south of Ollerton. Rufford Abbey was founded in 1146 by Gilbert De Gant, Earl of Lincoln ( D. 1156 ). It was acquired by the Talbot's, Earls of Shrewsbury following the dissolution in 1536 and incorporated into a house. Acquired by the Savile family in 1626, it remained in their ownership until the mid-20th century. It was partially demolished in 1956 but the medieval part of the building and the adjacent kitchen wing were preserved. The abbey is in the guardianship of English Heritage. It is a grade I listed and scheduled as an ancient monument.

A FINE COUNTRY HOUSE.

 

The abbey at Rufford was converted into a country house after its suppression in 1536. This house was then substantially altered in the 17th and 19th centuries to create a grand mansion. George Savile remodelled the house drastically in 1678 - 80 pulling down the remains of the monastery. He built a large north wing, which stood on the site of the Abbey Church. The next remodelling of the house occurred in 1837. John Lumley - Savile, the 8th Earl of Scarborough, commissioned the fashionable architect Anthony Salvin to renovate the house. The clock tower on the left side of the house is from this period. George Savile ( 1633 - 1695 ) the first Marquess of Halifax, was one of the leading politicians of his day. He was very fond of Rufford Abbey and made it his main residence. The house itself is constructed of rubble, brick, dressed stone and ashlar with ashlar dressings and plain roof tiles.



 

 

Plan showing the layout as it was and what is now left.

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This would have been the front of the mansion.

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The rear of the mansion looking towards the porch.

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The bell tower.

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THE NIGHT STAIRS.

 

These stairs led down from the lay brothers dormitory allowing easy access to the west end of the abbey church for services.

 

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This is where the butlers pantry would have been.

 

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Looking along the brick hall, at the bottom end of this wall is where the library would have been.

 

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Looking through the porch window towards the business room.

 

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Above the porch entrance.

 

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THE CARVED CORBELS.

 

These stones supported the ceiling beams. The ones you see here today are modern copies of the originals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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