Jo’s Monday walk : Spring at Crook Hall, Durham

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Stroll along the river bank with me, in the heart of Durham City, and let me take you to an idyllic garden.  I intended to visit a new exhibition at Durham Cathedral but, as luck would have it, it was closed that day.  I’m a firm believer in serendipity and, as the gentle sunshine warmed my cheeks, I suddenly knew where I wanted to go.

Crook Hall dates from 13th century and is a vision in golden ivy-clad stone.  It sits back a little from the footpath and the gently elevated position makes for majestic views over Durham. Crook is a Grade 1 listed Medieval hall with a rich and colourful history.  As all such places should, it has a resident ghost, ‘The White Lady’, and has been enjoyed by such luminaries as William Wordsworth and John Ruskin.  Today I’m going to focus on the garden rooms, described on the website as each having their own personality.

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It’s impossible to ignore the constant presence of the house.  It provides a benign backdrop, yet with an almost tangible air of mystery.

Close by the house, a secret garden has been in existence for more than 700 years.

Statuary is an integral part of the gardens.  Nymphs and maidens shake out their tresses, demurely lower their eyes, or gaze seductively out.  Monks perform solemn duties, urns cast playful shadows and a rather mischievous Puck plays his pan pipes, sheltered beneath a weathered tree.

The golden lady follows me with her eyes, and what of the lady reclining, neglected, on the bare earth?  She must have a story to tell. Ornate chairs and benches invite me to linger, admiring the pure white snowdrops.  Beyond the lake, fiery witch hazel brands the limpid blue sky.

I drift from ‘room to room’, each leading to the next, yet independent and sufficient in itself.  A mighty lion bench, breathing fire, gives me pause.

Through a gate, precisely trimmed hedges in the newest of these still evolving gardens, etched with remnants of winter shadows.

Leaving the house behind, I wander down towards the rusty maze, bereft of leaves this early in the year.  Did you glimpse the koala, dangling in the tree?  And yet another selfie!  One more surprise awaits- a softly slumbering giant!

And then I’m back at the entrance and The Garden Gate Cafe. (open all day, separately from the Hall, but there are Tea Rooms inside the Hall too) The Sparkling Afternoon Tea looked very inviting but my lift had arrived and so I’ll have to disappoint you yet again.  No cake!  How come you missed this place, Jude?  It would have been a natural for the Garden Challenge.

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Down at the river bank, this scene awaits, but if you turn and walk back towards the cathedral you might just be able to catch the exhibition, Open Treasure.  And if not, Durham Cathedral is always beautiful.

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Lots of walks to share this week and I hope you can spare time to visit as many as you can. Especially as I won’t be posting a walk next week.  I will, I hope, be skip, hop and jumping (or walking) in Florence.  I don’t want to schedule a walk in my absence because it’s too hard to catch up again afterwards.  So I hope you’ll forgive me if I hang on to any walks you share till the following week?  Details are all on my Jo’s Monday walk page.

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Eddy was close in my footsteps last week, but his were even cooler!

Do you want owt fromt’ shops?

There’s nothing nicer than a gentle stroll with Jude.  Treat yourself!

Historic Uphill Lincoln

Anabel ventured further up the coast from me, in some delightful villages :

Fife Coastal Path

Another coastal path for you, but Eunice is over on the other coast :

Anglesey Coastal Path- the White Arch and Tyger’s memorial

Two for the price of one from Eunice this week!

A long canal walk

Imagine my surprise on seeing Ana’s post!  Right on my very own doorstep :

Strolling along the River Wear in Durham

Quite a leap of the imagination from Durham to Buenos Aires, Ana :

Beloved Argentinian characters at Paseo de la Historieta

Jackie’s having fun down Mexico way- lovely bougainvillea!

A Mexican walk

I do love Woolly’s perspective on life!

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Lady Lee is completely at home in the Philippines :

What’s in Bohol?

And Liesbet is pretty good at balancing a budget!

Laguna Beach, CA- On a Shoestring

Amy’s back, and she’s chosen to ride, but who can blame her?

An Elephant Ride

I love Yvette’s take on life, but brrrh, those Falls look chilly!

Walk with Jo in Niagara, NY (doors and windows) 

Drake is always irrepressible.  Got to love him!

Warm feet and cold nose

Isn’t it always walking weather?  Well mostly, when you’re with Susan :

Walking, Weather or Not

And Carol has a most appropriate question :

When is a Walk not a Walk?

Rounding off with a highly informative walk from Denzil.  He’s doing a grand job promoting Belgium :

Walking from Tervuren to Bertem

And Cathy, beavering away in the States, but still found time to walk with me :

Philadelphia : the south mural arts walk 

Remember- no Monday walk next week!  But I’ll try to find you some cake in Florence.  Stay safe till the next time!

 

174 comments

  3. Oh, I just love secret garden and this one here is no exception, just wish it was closer!! The photos are beautiful, atmospheric,the light superb and the writing is lovely and catches its special mystical aural. ‘It provides a benign backdrop, yet with an almost tangible air of mystery.’ Hope you’re having a wonderful time in Florence, that alone can provide posts for a couple of months!!

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    1. I’m off to Florence on Sunday, Annika. Jaunted around the Yorkshire Dales, chasing the sun again today, and Fountains Abbey for the snowdrops last week 🙂 It’s usually just one outing a week but they give me such pleasure. And yes- I think you will be bombarded after Florence 🙂 🙂

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  6. Pingback: A three river adventure in the Algarvian hills | It caught my eye in Portugal

  9. l’inverno ha rubato il colore arancione agli alchechengi,e al calicanto, chiazze di primavera qua e là posano sprazzi di colore tra le statue abbracciate dall’edera, un delizioso reportage nel giardino segreto
    mi piace moltissimo questo ambiente semi-selvaggio
    note felice
    ciao bella

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  10. I have never been to Durham, this walk looks beautiful and it will be on my list when I finally get there. Have a fabulous time in Florence, I can’t wait to hear how you get on😄

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  11. There was a Durham, New Hampshire very close to where we lived but not anything like this…lovely. The sleeping giant looks like he has been there years but I see he is only a few years old.

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  13. Have a wonderful time in Florence Jo! Durham looks absolutely beautiful and I have heard of The White Lady before (on one of those ghostly TV shows). The stone work is amazing and my favourite would have to be the lion arms on that chair – I want one 🙂 xxx

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  14. Absolutely beautiful, I love Durham. I did smile at the secret garden helpfully labelled Secret Garden. Not now it isn’t! It’s a long time since I visited Florence but I loved it too. Hope you gave a great time.

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  15. Lovely walk, Jo! It makes me want to go back to Durham. We didn’t have enough time to see all the sights,mthis one included. And thanks for the shoutout!

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  16. Another fabulous cathedral city, I’ve just come from Judes post and I can’t get either of you to come and see mine 🙂 🙂 🙂 These gardens are gorgeous, it takes a long time for a garden to settle in properly. I bet you’re excited about Sunday, you need a trip somewhere different to distract you. I’ve booked for September and as always I’m already bouncing. Take care sweetness and have a big hug from Devon xx

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    1. What did you decide for September, Gilly? 🙂 I’ll get down your way one of these days. I need to get to April and then I should be free to plan again. Busy till then and don’t want to commit to anything else till James is sorted. Love you, darlin!

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      1. Florence and a bit of a gad around a couple other places in Tuscany, woohoo! Don’t worry if there’s a possibility that you’ll move south I’ll come north before you do! Loves ya too honey 🙂

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  17. Ahh dear Jo, how I have missed walking with you. What a stunningly beautiful post, you make me want to visit Crook Hall and it’s stunning gardens immediately. I feel the mystery of the place, and the sleeping giant particularly grabbed me for some strange reason…and of course, the delightful secret garden 🙂 Thank you for taking me with you, even if we didn’t get to share cake. Maybe next time. And have a wonderful time in Florence…a place I’ve wanted to visit but yet to do so. I’ll await your gorgeous photos in the meantime! xxx

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    1. I think you could probably spin some good stories around the place, Sherri 🙂 I might not fancy being there late at night 🙂 But it is a lovely garden, and one to linger in. We could have sat and ‘put the world to rights’ in that cafe. No, we’d let the world look after itself and just enjoy each other’s company. 🙂 Thanks so much for joining me darlin. Sending hugs!

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      1. Oh, now that would be so lovely! I can imagine it now, I am smiling at the very thought of sharing cake and tea with you and enjoying each other’s company, never minding what the world is doing! Always a pleasure to join you dear Jo…hugs right back! 🙂 xx

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  18. I like your eye for detail, Jo. You do take time during your strolls to take everything in. I also like that the statues seem to be preserved as is and not renovated. The statue laying on the ground is quite unique and has to be my favorite! So peaceful…

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    1. Yes, she’s rather odd, isn’t she? I hoped there would be more information on the website but there’s very little about the gardens. My favourite is the golden lady. I like her expression 🙂 And I agree, much better weathered and not renovated. Thanks for your company, Liesbet. I enjoyed our stroll.

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    1. It’s rare for me to visit a garden so early in the year, Lisa. Mostly they’re still closed, except for the odd snowdrop walk. But it was such a very pleasant afternoon. Glad you enjoyed it, and many thanks for the walk. 🙂

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