After stumbling onto the photos and a little history of the handsome French chateau that I wrote about here some time ago, I have learned there are far too many more formerly lovely, now discarded, mansions in the UK and France.  At least the skeletons are left standing for the public to appreciate the architecture and construction details. 

Here is my most recent find.

This Georgian beauty is known as Sutton Scarsdale Hall.  It is located just outside Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK.  The structure was originally built as part of the Saxon empire of  Wulfric Spott who made it into a Benedectine Abbey.

There were barons, relatives of kings, religious and even a movie star who enjoyed the beauty of the manor before its decay. 

In 1920, a group of ruthless businessmen stripped the house of its assets, even the roof.  Parts were shipped to the US and some paneling was bought by William Randolph Hearst who never used it. 

It sits now in the care of English Heritage and is freely accessible to visitors. 

Here is a postcard photo of Sutton Scarsdale Hall in it's prime.

Do you think those are sheep on the lawn?  This view is the front of the building.  I don't know if the tower and church in the background really existed or if they were added to the painting.  Maybe I will investigate further. 

My apologies to those who follow.  I hope you haven't given up on me.  I've had a lengthy bout with a painful shoulder which has kept me from the computer. 

Did you lose something?

I've always been fascinated with abandoned buildings.  I will grant that in years past I often plundered for bounty.  These days I don't find myself in the presence of many since the bulldozers rule around here.  I picked up a lead this morning to an awesome abandoned site and wanted to share it with my friends here on the porch. 

This haunting photo is of Chateau Miranda in Belgium.  During the French Revolution, the family of the Count of Liedekerke-Beaufort left the feudal castle Château de Vêves and lived at a nearby farm. After the Revolution, this opulent residence was built as a summer home for the family in 1866.  A summer home, no less. 





The Château de Miranda was owned and used by the family except when it was briefly occupied by the Nazis in World War II.  In 1958, it was used by the SNCB (a Belgian national rail company) as a home for the railwaymen's children and that is how it also achieved the name Château de Noisy.

 

Can you imagine children's play in this space?  Perhaps only learning.  As a child I would have been completely distracted by the spider web ceiling. 

 

 

I can more easily imagine children running through this concourse.  Or, a refined Edwardian lady watching from these windows for the approach of a suitor's carriage.  I much prefer this French blue bishop's hat ceiling to the red spidery one.  Wishing those who currently stalk and trundle would take their empties when they go. 

 

 

Such amazing. architecture.  Specific to the last measure.   Was there a bride who descended this stairway?  Or did they do that in the last of the 19th century? 

Did the children begin this descecration?  The war?  No.  The house still belongs to the family who maintain their original castle home nearby.  No news on their plans for Chateau Noisy.  There are bits to be found on the 'net by people who want to see it restored.  There is a Facebook page for Chateau Miranda.  Perhap you will add your voice. 

 It is hard to imagine that so much decay could have happened since that fire escape was installed.  The date given for the family's abandonment of the structure is 1991.

There is this poignant reminder that someone once planned..

 

It is an aged and moldy wallpaper book.

 

Could you just cry?

 

 

Some photos and inspiration came from:

 

http://preservationjourney.wordpress.com/2010/11/11/the-charm-of-chateau-miranda/

 

http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php/47905-Chateau-Miranda-(aka-Chateau-de-Noisy)

 

This post originally appeared in 2013.