Calke Abbey, English country house and museum in Calke, Derbyshire.
Calke Abbey is an English country house and museum in Calke, Derbyshire, listed as a Grade I building. The neoclassical estate of grey sandstone has projecting corner pavilions, a Greek Revival portico, and large gardens surrounded by protected parkland and woodland areas.
The estate was built in 1704 on the site of an Augustinian monastery and remained in the Harpur family for three centuries. In 1985 it passed to the National Trust.
The rooms display natural history collections and preserved household items from different periods. The name comes from an Augustinian priory that stood here before the manor house.
The National Trust manages the estate and keeps it in its original condition to show the natural decline of country houses. Visitors should note that the building remains unchanged and some areas can be seen without restoration.
A state bed from the 18th century, made for George I and gifted by Princess Anne, still stands here with its original Chinese embroidered silk hangings. The bed remained hidden in its packing until it was discovered decades after arrival.
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