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Article: Magic carpets
- Article from:
- Sentinel, The (Stoke-on-Trent UK)
- Article date:
- January 22, 2009
CopyrightCopyright 2009 Sentinel, The (Stoke-on-Trent UK). Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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In 1996 Bill Brogden and his wife Eddy bought Hopton Hall, a 12th
century manor house just north of Ashbourne, which had once
encompassed an estate of 3,700 acres. Some of those acres now stand
under the nearby Carsington Water reservoir, but the thirty or so
which remain and which had received little or no maintenance for
forty years, have been brought back to life by the current owners.
With the help of estate manager, Spencer, the Brogdens have
gradually cleared and restored the grounds and its walks, revealing
five acres of natural woodland, which, each year in early spring,
are carpeted with spectacular displays of snowdrops and winter
aconites.
Along with the snowdrop walks, there ...