We didn't expect to get into this place - up to our visit the only shots I found anywhere on line were from the front gate.
No one seemed to have gotten inside even the grounds.
So we were well chuffed when we got in. As I left, I stayed
in a little longer than the rest of our party, I had just got
out when a gentleman in a Turban walked right past where
I had just walked across to get out - literally two minutes
later and we'd have bimped into each other.
anyhoo on with the pics:
all the magazines and newspapers on this desk were Asian - I suspect the man with the turban is probably caretaker/security - not a bad desk to sit at is it ?
The grounds are very extensive
Here's a little about the place:
The Original Kinmell Hall was built in the 12th century,
however a new mansion replaced this in the 18th century
for Lord Dinorben. This was subsequently virtually
destroyed by fire in 1841 and replaced by the current hall
designed by W.E. Nesfield.
It was last used as a private residence in 1929 and has
since had a variety of uses including a boys school, a
health centre, a military hospital, a "rheuma" spa
( a health centre for the treatment of people with
Rheumatism), a conference centre and an educational
venue.
The stable block is attributed to William Burn and was
completed in the 1850's.
The house is set in walled gardens of around 18 acres, which
are themselves set in grounds of around 5000 acres
(20km2), these include open fields, park land and forests.
There was, apparently, a room in the mansion which was
only to be used for the ironing of newspapers so the ink
would not come off on readers hands.
It is currently in the hands of a development company in
Derbyshire and has had interest from several hotel chains
but permission for such conversion has not been given
by the local council.