Walking into Haddon Hall is like stepping back in time. Dating to the 11th century, Haddon Hall is perhaps one of the best preserved manors of its kind. And why is that, you wonder? Well, it's because for about two centuries nobody lived here at all - the place was left under lock and key exactly as it was. No wonder it's been so popular with film-crews: Haddon Hall has been used as a setting for three different versions of Jane Eyre!
But there's more to Haddon than a well-preserved manor. The place is also rich with the legends of one Dorothy Vernon, the sixteenth-century heiress of Haddon Hall. According to the stories, Dorothy's father forbade his daughter from seeing the man she loved, John Manners. Driven by passion, Dorothy fled Haddon Hall during a ball, crossing over a footbridge where John Manners was waiting for her. This elopement has served as the plot for countless plays and novels - though unfortunately there's not much proof that the relationship was forbidden in the first place.
This stunning design shows the footbridge in question, now known to the world as the Dorothy Vernon Bridge, its two graceful arches spanning over the River Wye. It looks like early autumn and a kingfisher flashes by. And up the grassy slopes is the Hall itself, its crenelated walls and towers catching the afternoon light - the perfect scene to enjoy as you dry the dishes.
