Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Wandering Wednesday: Derbyshire and Pemberley!

by Carolyn Miller @CarolynMAuthor



My brand new Regency novel, Miss Serena's Secret, is set partly in Derbyshire, so to celebrate, I thought it would be nice to take a visit to two of the iconic houses in this area, both of which have been used in filmed versions of one of my all time favourite novels, Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
Chatsworth House, Carolyn Miller Author

Chatsworth House

Chatsworth House is the ancestral home of the Dukes of Devonshire, and has been in the Cavendish family's possession for sixteen generations! This Baroque styled house was used as the setting for Mr Darcy's Pemberley in the 2005 film of Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley.
A grand staircase takes you up to the first of the State rooms.
Chatsworth House, Carolyn Miller Author

Chatsworth has often been voted one of England's favourite stately homes, and it's not hard to see why. Visitors are allowed to take pictures (!), and there is so much to see in a history-filled house of such wealth and importance. The Chapel remains virtually unaltered since it was built between 1688 and 1693. Its altarpiece of alabaster and marble is stunning, and a reminder of the importance faith held for families, when they would gather for daily prayers and Sunday worship.
Chatsworth House, Carolyn Miller Author
I wanted to show the awe of my artistic heroine (Miss Serena) as she visited a place such as this, and viewed the magnificence of the sculptures and paintings, such as those that line so many of the walls at Chatsworth. Here are some pictures I took of some of the magnificent artwork of Chatsworth, including the Sculpture Gallery from that famous scene in P&P!
Chatsworth House, Carolyn Miller Author

Chatsworth House, Carolyn Miller Author
Chatsworth House, Carolyn Miller Author
Chatsworth House, Carolyn Miller Author

Places like Chatsworth were designed to make a statement about a family's wealth and social position. This can be seen in the State and Guest bedrooms, where magnificence abounds in the furnishings, fabric and absolute attention to detail. 
Chatsworth House, Carolyn Miller Author

Chatsworth House, Carolyn Miller Author


Imagine being brought up in such a setting! Imagine visiting, as the far more humble daughter of a far more humble background, and being asked to dine at a table not unlike this!
Chatsworth House, Carolyn Miller Regency Author
One of the things I enjoyed about Chatsworth (there were so many!) was the inclusion of collectibles by the family, things that make a house more a home. The 5th Duchess of Devonshire collected minerals, and I included references to the local stone known as 'Blue John' in Miss Serena's Secret.
Chatsworth House, Carolyn Miller Regency Author





Of course, one can't visit Chatsworth without enjoying its magnificent gardens, with famous features such as the Cascades, designed to feed the Sea Horse fountain in the south lawn.
Chatsworth House, Carolyn Miller Author

Chatsworth House, Carolyn Miller Author
So much magnificence! So little time - especially if one still wants to visit the other (real!) Pemberley of Lyme Park, located not too far away in nearby Cheshire. 

Lyme Park

The exterior of this stately home was used in the 1995 BBC production of Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth, and holds special significance because my husband worked here in its garden in the 1990s!
So here's some pics I took with my sister of the gardens and courtyard of this very stately building.

Lyme Park, Carolyn Miller Christian Regency Author

Lyme Park, Carolyn Miller Christian Regency Author

Lyme Park, Carolyn Miller Christian Regency Author

Lyme Park, Carolyn Miller Christian Regency Author

Visiting houses like these are such rare occasions for this Aussie from the opposite side of the world that one has to make the most of it via so many pictures and mementoes. For more pictures visit my website www.carolynmillerauthor.com and check out the Miss Serena's Secret page.

Want to know more about the book? Here's the blurb:
Scarred by her past, Serena Winthrop is determined to protect her heart - especially from flirts like the too smooth Viscount Carmichael. But when forced to share his roof, she discovers another side to the man who gambles with women's hearts as he does their husband's money. 
Henry, Lord Carmichael, struggles with the weight of his Derbyshire's family's expectations, until he finds a hope shared by the too perceptive, too young artist. But he's promised to protect his best friend's innocent sister-in-law, not charm her, much to his - and her - private dismay. 
When her art leads her to London infamy, he's forced to choose between the life mapped out for him, and the love of his life, with whom marriage might prove the end of his family line. 

You can purchase copies here.

Giveaway!

To celebrate the launch of Miss Serena's Secret I have one e-copy to give away, anywhere in the world. For your chance to win, leave a comment on this blog post, and to double your chances, leave a comment on the International Christian Fiction Writers July 2018 New Releases post. Entries close 31st July.

Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. Together with her husband she has pastored a church for ten years, and worked part-time as a public high school English and Learning and Support teacher. 
A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English Literature, and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. Her Regency novels include The Elusive Miss Ellison, The Captivating Lady Charlotte, The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey, Winning Miss Winthrop and Miss Serena's Secret, all available from Amazon, Book Depository, Koorong, etc

Connect with her:        website | facebook | pinterest | twitter | instagram

20 comments:

  1. I love this post. The pictures are wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing all of them with us. This book is now on my TBR list. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
    Debbiewilder@comcast.net

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    1. Thanks Debbie - so glad you enjoyed! I hope you get the chance to read Miss Serena’s Secret soon :)

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  2. Lovely post! I loved seeing the pictures of the estates and reading how certain aspects inspired your writing. Thanks for the giveaway of Miss Serena's Secret as well. I can't wait to read!

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  3. Being an Austen fan, I do love this post and photos, Carolyn. What stately houses they are. I presumed they're now owned by the State and used for tourism? or do people still own them?

    And how incredible that your hubby worked in the garden of Lyme Park.

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    1. Hi Ian - interestingly, Chatsworth is still owned by the dukes of Devonshire - and it’s been in that family for hundreds of years. That’s a remarkable legacy! Lyme Park is now run by a national heritage organisation, but which one I’m not sure.

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  4. Beautiful pictures and I'm looking forward to reading Miss Serena's Secret!

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  5. These photos are breathtaking! I can't imagine living with that kind of wealth, but it is fun to try and live vicariously through reading about it.

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    1. Thanks Amy. I think that might be partly why I enjoy writing about these things so much!

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  6. Absolutely beautiful, I would love to visit there one day. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if they let you stay for the week. I am so excited for your new book!

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    1. Oohh, staying there - how wonderful! I think Chatsworth might have a little farmhouse nearby they might rent out, but you might need to get to know the family to stay there!

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  7. I don't think that I'll ever make it to those locations so I appreciate the peek inside of those gorgeous homes! I must admit that I enjoy the scenery outside more. It's all so lovely, though! mylittlebirdiebooks (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. It’s all so very lovely, isn’t it? Thanks for stopping by!

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  8. I would love to visit there! So beautiful!

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  9. I love these pictures, Carolyn! They remind me of our trip to England and Scotland. I think I already told you this, but my Facebook picture is of me, my husband, my daughter, and her husband in front of Lyme Park. We had a picnic at the spot where Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth meet after he emerges from the pond. Such fun! Great memories!

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    1. What a fabulous memory of an iconic scene! Thanks Winnie xx

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  10. Beautiful pictures and great commentary Carolyn. I grew up in England but didn't discover Jane Austen until I lived in Australia. I kick myself regularly for lost opportunities like this one!

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  11. And we have a winner! Congratulations, Karen, I hope you enjoy reading Miss Serena's Secret!

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