At the weekend we took the boy for a walk around Abney Hall. I’ve lived a few minutes away from Abney Hall all my life and spent many, many happy hours there as a child.
We used to love pond dipping, playing in the steam and chasing around in the woodland. Slightly morbid me, used to enjoy visiting the pet cemetery, where the beloved family pets of the halls previous residents are buried.
The hall has a grand history and is perhaps most famous for its connection to Agatha Christie who visited relatives there on a number of occasions and wrote several stories during her time at Abney Hall.
We went this weekend because we’d heard that a sinkhole had opened up in the pond and it had entirely drained away.
The sinkhole which appeared in March
When we visited at the weekend it looked like the pond had been repaired and had started to fill again with rainwater.
The pond at the weekend, it looked full and healthy
We had a lovely wander around the park, the boy loved pointing at the ducks on the pond and splashing in muddy puddles. I love the building itself, it’s really quite gothic and the gargoyles are beautifully spooky.
The hall is having some work done
Architecture is lost on the very young who much prefer crossing the stream and splashing as they go.
Fording the stream – he was really excited by this!
As well as a game of pooh-sticks!
Pooh-sticks… I lost
It’s a beautiful place to visit and we intend to take him back quite regularly, I’m keen to see the slow unveiling of the newly repaired hall and I imagine he’s excited about more epic pooh-sticks battles.
Abney Hall is near Cheadle, Cheshire and is free to visit and enjoy.
My boys have unbelievably competitive games of pooh sticks most days when we walk the dog. Who knew something so sedate could be so controversial. Pooh and Piglet never had wrestling matches over who was the winner…
Love that the pond is back to its normal state. Thank you for sharing nice photos. Kids do love the outside world than be inside building no matter how nice it is =) #countrykids
Sounds like a great place to visit. We love water features especially ones you can jump in! #countrykids
Lovely photos, looks like you all had a nice day together #countrykids x
Such an picturesque and interesting place to explore – and for free which is brilliant. How lovely to re-visit and introduce your children to a place from your own childhood that holds lovely memories. Thanks for linking up and sharing your outdoor fun with Country Kids.
How funny that the sink hole drained the pond #countrykids