projectmayhem | 15 Oct 2014 3:58 a.m. PST |
Mrs Project Mayhem has organised for us to go to Chatsworth House, travelling up from Dorset and spend a few days in the area. Question is, if I can get in one military based excusion, either museums or sites, then what should it be? As well as WW stuff, aircraft etc also interested in ECW sites. My current list, but I think these are too far out of the way: RAF Cosford Schuttleworth collection IWM Manchester Royal Armouries Leeds Any suggestions on places to visit? |
Simon Jackson | 15 Oct 2014 5:20 a.m. PST |
Royal Armouries – its a full day of fun. Get there early and try and watch all the demos. |
Martin Rapier | 15 Oct 2014 5:46 a.m. PST |
The Peak District is a National Park so doesn't have a lot of military museum to visit. The Leeds Armouries is indeed worth a visit. If you want a proper Peak District day with a military theme then go to Castleton, visit Peveril Castle, maybe go down the caves or at least have a look at The Devils Arse cave then do the circular walk from Castleton up to Mam Tor (and the Iron Age Hill fort thereon) and back down creepy Winnats Pass. From the Mam Tor ridge you can see down the Edale valley to Lose Hill and Win Hill – reputedly the site of a dark ages/medieval battle, you can guess which side stood on which hill. Further east is Carl Wark below Higger Tor (another Iron Age construction) and if you walk up to Froggatt Edge from there via the Grouse Inn you can see the prominent bullet scarred rock where the RAF used to practice strafing. Little John is of course buried in Hathersage church yard, and if you are lucky you will still see the RAF practicing flying down the valleys. I was a bit surprised to see an Apache flying beside me along the road just last week. |
Bellbottom | 15 Oct 2014 6:27 a.m. PST |
When are you going? Wargames show Leeds Fiasco is on at the hall next to the Armouries on 26/10/2014. It's also worth visiting the Armouries website or ringing them up in advance to find out which live displays are planned for the day of your visit and at what times (they vary) |
Old Slow Trot | 15 Oct 2014 6:43 a.m. PST |
Wondering if I might have some distant kin there,myself. |
GildasFacit | 15 Oct 2014 8:30 a.m. PST |
Wondering if I might have some distant kin there myself.
A number of my ancestors are buried in Edensor churchyard just outside the House gates. Our branch of the family left in the late 18th century but some were still living in the village until around WW1. Fiasco is a good idea and then over to the Armouries, if the date is right for you. Like the others, I can't think of any related ECW sites in the locale. |
NickNorthStar | 15 Oct 2014 11:35 a.m. PST |
There are WW2 aircraft wrecks on the Moors above Chatsworth if you fancy a stout walk. link Bolsover Castle, although not the scene of ECW action, is period related. link Chesterfield also has a little museum: link |
seneffe | 15 Oct 2014 3:43 p.m. PST |
The Derby city museum and art gallery houses the regimental museums of the Sherwood Foresters, 9th/12th lancers and Derbyshire Yeomanry- all units with interesting histories. Of non-military interest are the Joseph Wright paintings of the late c18th. Good museum last time I looked, which was a few years ago. Website worth a look anyway. |
ork56tmp | 15 Oct 2014 4:31 p.m. PST |
IWM Manchester looks a bit 'arty' rather than being a museum. Have a good look at the website before deciding to go there. Agree on Armouries being a better option |
Big Martin Back | 16 Oct 2014 3:29 a.m. PST |
Yes – some friends were rather disappointed with the IWM in Manchester and he's a military historian. |
NickNorthStar | 16 Oct 2014 10:13 a.m. PST |
Yes, IWM Manchester is dreadful. When I went a few years ago, they had one T-34 in the display, labelled 'A Tank'. Plus it's a very long drive from Chatsworth. Leeds is a long drive as well, but worth it. |
Davidp42 | 16 Oct 2014 1:59 p.m. PST |
On pure tourism grounds I'd endorse Bolsover Castle which was the Marquis of Newcastle's pleasure house. Well worth a couple of hours. At weekends they do period dressage displays in the indoor riding school – I gather it is best to book for this. The M1 is 50mph most of the way from near Chatsworth to Leeds at present meaning the Armouries (which does have some nice ECW stuff) would be a bit of a trek. Come back next year and combine a trip into Leeds with York and the Yorkshire Air Museum. |
138SquadronRAF | 17 Oct 2014 12:19 p.m. PST |
Schuttleworth Collection is well worth going to. We took a side trip to the remains of Tempsford airfield (home of the original 138 Squadron) and the SOE monument at the remains of Gilbert Farm. Lunt fort outside Brum is worth a visit |
AussieAndy | 17 Oct 2014 8:10 p.m. PST |
Your reference to Chatsworth reminds me of when we visited (from Australia) a couple of years ago. My son very politely asked if he could play the piano in the library, as he hadn't had access to a piano while we were away. The sight of a very blonde 12 year old playing the Steinway grand sent the Japanese tourists into a photographic frenzy. The camera flashes going off was like the red carpet at the Oscars. I should have passed the hat around. |