Thrills and chills

I had such a good day yesterday! I woke up and had a leisurely breakfast and shower and when everyone was ready we got into the car and made our way back to Seaton Delaval Hall. We went last week to the chilli festival but didn't have time to explore the hall. So today we went and had a good look around the main Hall, East wing, West wing and the vast but beautiful gardens. We really hit on lucky with the weather too, it was quite warm and was sunny for once! (Although it did start to rain a little bit as we were leaving the gardens and making our way back to the car). It was fascinating hearing the stories from staff about the people who built the hall and lived in it and to hear that some members of the family are still alive today and still own a few of the rooms so that they can go a few times a year to visit and stay. It's a shame that the family had it all those hundreds of years and the current members of the family had to strike a deal with the National Trust to sell the bulk of it to cover the costs of keeping it.

The vault in the cellar for the original owner

The cellars - almost got lost!

Some of the horses names in the stables. There was a speaker which was triggered by movement which played horse sounds - it was great, if a little eerie!

On the ctaircase to the Grand Hall. Can you see the lady on the right in period costume? There was a few people dressed up it was brilliant.

View of the garden designed by the late Lady Hastings from her bedroom window!

One of the ladies walking about the gardens in full costume. She was so lovely!

This weeping ash tree is over 220 years old!! It was huge!

Standing at the end of the garden looking back at the hall.

Fountain in the centre of the garden

Ah it was fantastic! I absolutely love places like this. There is something so magical about walking around stately homes and imagining what it was like when it was first built, how the family and the staff would live their day-to-day lives. My Mum and I even pretended to be ladies from the time taking a turn about the garden haha! Silly but fun :)

Now for the chills! We ate our tea and settled down to watch a film. We had 2 to chose from and in the end chose The Rite. It wasn't as scary as I'd thought it was going to be, but it did make me jump a few times! I'm not a huge fan of possession / exorcism films ... they give me the wobbles!! But it was a good watch! :)

[sourced from here]