Monday 10 December 2007

Notre Reine:- elle aime bien ouvrir des choses


Notre Reine:- elle aime bien ouvrir des choses, particulièrement ceux, dont ont été fermés pendant un moment.
Cette résidence magnifique, 'Carrick Hill House', a été terminée en 1939, et elle affiche un escalier le plus imposant, l'escalier de Waterloo, apporté dehors de la 'Maison Beaudesert' en Staffordshire, Angleterre.
'Carrick Hill' est fermée au public chaque juillet pour le travail préventifs de restauration.

The Queen loves to open things,- especially if they have been closed for a while.
This magnificent residence, Carrick Hill House, was completed in 1939, and it sports a most imposing staircase, the Waterloo Staircase, brought out from the demolished Beaudesert House in Staffordshire, England.
Carrick Hill is closed to the public every July for preventative conservation and restoration work.
You can see another view of this lovely old home, HERE

7 comments:

Karen said...

It certainly is a glorious old building. Would you believe I have never visited it? It's funny how you don't explore things that are right on your doorstep isn't it? Love to Mme Benaut and her poor foot.

dive said...

It's a lovely house, Monsieur B.
With any luck you'll soon be a republic and can prise that awful plaque off the house and make the place even lovelier. Hee hee.

Cheltenhamdailyphoto said...

Gorgeous. Love the brickwork marks in this photo.

Cheltenhamdailyphoto said...

Hey M et Mme: pop over to Things UK for a bit of romance from my dear ole mum and dad. Ahhh!

Jules said...

Great building and I agree with Dive

Down with the Monarchy
Down with Liz
Long Live the Republic!!!

God I could be sent to a deserted island in the middle of nowhere for that sort of heresy!!!!

Maria said...

I would dearly love a sign like for my house. Of course, I AM the queen there..

Anonymous said...

"The Queen loves to open things, especially if they have been closed for a while." HAHA. Loved that line as I do Maria's.

But!

Your picture and anecdote reveals very little of this amazing asset. The house was opened by the Queen because Edward Hayward was a Knight of her order. Ursula Hayward, former mistress of the house, was not only an artist and an accomplished gardener who designed the grounds around Carrick Hill but she was also the first woman appointed to the board of the Art Gallery of South Australia and between her and her husband, they amassed an amazing art collection spanning many countries and centuries, a tremendous gift for Australia. Have you not seen it? (There are a few Gaugins and a Renoir in there, you know);)

In addition, the house is of Tudor style and features many architectural aspects such as the doors, windows, architraves and fireplaces that cannot be found in this country as they were specially brought over by the Haywards from England. But bear in mind that the Haywards were not British - they were Australian. Mr Hayward was a Rat of Tobruk and an amazing man. Anyone who worked for Johnnies will also know that it was his family who started the traditional Christmas Parade in Adelaide.

Also, Carrick Hill houses the largest cultural festival in SA which is held every year - the French Festival. The theme every year takes on a province of France. Last year was Brittany, 2001 was Normandy - I attended both. After all, Adelaide is my home town :)

And finally, republicanism in Australia is not heresy but a source for thoughtful debate (after a few beers of course). I do note, however, that when protesters realise their Queen's Birthday long weekend will be one of the first things to be struck off the calendar when Australia ditches the British monarchy (whose mottos are French, by the way - 'Dieu et mon droit' and 'Honi soit qui mal y pense'), they suddenly become veeeery quiet. *LOL*

Delighted to have found this blog on Adelaide and, mon Dieu, en francais aussi! Fantastique!