Sunday 5 April 2009

Durham City's Hidden Jewel

Crook Hall Gardens Durham photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK

The spring sun shone from a perfect blue sky as I entered the gardens of Crook Hall in the heart of Durham City. It had been several months since my last visit, and I had been looking forward to renewing my acquaintance with this lovely place.

Crook Hall Gardens Durham photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK
The view above shows the Georgian and Jacobean parts of the Hall, from the Walled Garden with its spring flowers. (Crook Hall's excellent website gives interesting information about the Hall and its history.)

Crook Hall Gardens Durham photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK
I paused in the Cathedral Garden, where stunning views of Durham Cathedral are echoed in the arched gateways and clipped hedge. A distinctive arched seat continues the theme.
Crook Hall Gardens Durham photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK
Walking through the arched gateway into the Shakespeare Garden, I looked back. How I marvelled at the light shining ethereally onto a statue, and illuminating the white flowers in the green shade!

Crook Hall Gardens Durham photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK
Further along, a little piper played among the ivy and pale daffodils.

Crook Hall Gardens Durham photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK
Emerging through another dark hedgeway into the sunlit orchard, my eyes were led along the curved path through the trees. In the distance a statue provided a serene focal point.

Crook Hall Gardens Durham photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK
The Moat Pool reflected the cerulean sky and countless daffodils fringed the water's edge.
Crook Hall Gardens Durham photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK
In the Woodland Garden silver and gold gleamed in secret glades.

Crook Hall Gardens Durham photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK
An enchantingly beautiful magnolia raised its blooms to the heavens.
Crook Hall Gardens Durham photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK
I soaked up the sun in front of the warm walls of the old Hall, wondering how many people must have done the same after countless cold winters!
Crook Hall Gardens Durham photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK A last view of historic Durham Cathedral before walking back into the city!
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Durham Crook Hall Gardens photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK
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To see more of North East Artist & Entertainer Ingrid Sylvestre's work please visit Ingrid Sylvestre Art, where you will find her paintings, illustrations, live event caricatures and silhouettes cutting including wedding entertainment ideas, party entertainment and corporate events entertainment throughout the North East UK.

Ingrid Sylvestre - Durham Artist

Durham artist Ingrid Sylvestre, artists in Durham.

28 comments:

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Wow! I love every single thing you showed about this garden (and the home--can you go inside?). Man, I miss England. (I've only ever visited twice, the last time 10 years ago, but much of it felt like home in ways that make NO sense given my German and Austrian parents.)

Phoenix C. said...

Thank you Monica! Yes, you can go inside. Crook Hall officially opens at Easter, and visitors can see some lovely rooms and eat delicious food inside or in the atmospheric courtyard.

Maybe you should make a spontaneous decision to visit England this year, as well as Chicago!

Diane AZ said...

The gardens of Crook hall are enchanting! The lighting in the Shakespeare Garden, the pathway through the orchard,the sky reflection in the moat pool and daffodils everywhere are breathtaking. All of the pictures and your descriptions are beautiful.

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

Absolutely gorgeous! Your photos make me almost feel like I'm there. My dream is to one day see gardens through out the U.K.

Phoenix C. said...

Thank you Diane! Crook Hall is indeed enchanting, and I was very lucky to have such lovely weather and light when I visited.

I will be taking more photos of the gardens through the seasons.

Phoenix C. said...

Thank you Catherine! I hope your dream comes true - there are such fantastic gardens here in the UK.

One of my dreams is to visit gardens in the US and other parts of the world.

Bay Area Tendrils said...

Glorious. A spot I have not had the pleasure of visiting. Next time, I hope.....

Westerwitch/Headmistress said...

Hi there

Thank you for commenting on my blog - I see we have a love of photography in common - great pictures.

Phoenix C. said...

Alice - thank you, and I hope you do manage to visit Crook Hall next time you are in the UK!

Phoenix C. said...

Thank you WesterWitch! I do love photography - blogging would be much more difficult without it!

Fennie said...

Hallo Phoenix, Thanks for dropping by my blog. Durham's a lovely City. I remember the Cathedral soaring above the river. Friendly place. Love your pics.

Phoenix C. said...

Thank you Fennie. Durham is indeed very friendly. I've just been photographing the river with the Cathedral soaring above today!

Prospero said...

I love these photos and your moon/palm trees icon.

Phoenix C. said...

Thank you Prospero - much appreciated!

Becca's Dirt said...

This is my first time to visit your blog and I am so impressed. I loved the tour and am in awe of how beautiful it is. Thanks for stopping by my blog - come again for a visit. I am looking forward to more. PS. I love your art. I paint too.

Phoenix C. said...

Thank you Becca! I look forward to seeing more of your blog too, and your art.

Barbara Martin said...

I have a deep fondness for gardens and woods, thinking of the different spirits that live therein. These photos put me into heaven. I am visiting from Raph's blog, and this place is purely divine.

Phoenix C. said...

Thank you so much, Barbara. I am honoured by your comment. It is my aim to express and communicate the heaven that I experience in these places.

Gunilla said...

What a fantastic trip Thank you for takeing me whith you and showing me that beautiful place.
I love that little piper who is playing and that beautiful mangnolia.

Thank you for sharing.

Thanks for your comment on my blog
Happy Easter

Gunilla

Phoenix C. said...

Thank you Gunilla, I'm glad you enjoyed the trip!

Have a lovely Easter.

Lona said...

What an enchanting place. It is gorgeous. I trimmed hedges like the cathedral is so amazing.I love the piper statue. Wonderful. Thank you for the visit through pictures.
Lona

Phoenix C. said...

Thank you Lona, glad you enjoyed the visit! Crook Hall is indeed an enchanting place!

Anna said...

What a delightful spot. I was a student in Newcastle many moons ago and enjoyed several visits to Durham. I wonder if Crook Hall was open then. Some beautiful photos and I am smitten by the little piper amidst the daffodils. I really enjoyed this post. Thanks for your recent visit to my blog and your comment.

Phoenix C. said...

Thank you Anna. I'm not sure how long Crook Hall has been open - I heard about it via a friend about seven years ago, and have been entranced ever since!

I like Newcastle. There have been quite a lot of changes there recently, especially along the River.

Woodland Fay said...

Dropped by after your kind comment on my blog and what a brilliant and multi-creative site. Enjoyed your photography, artwork and words. Regards F

Phoenix C. said...

Hello Woodland Fay, and thank you! Glad you enjoyed my blog!

Dirt Princess said...

What an amazing place!

Phoenix C. said...

Hi Dirt Princess, Crook Hall certainly is an amazing place - one of my favourites!