This is how we “take care” of our national heritage in Belgium.
The beautiful Castle Miranda was built in 1866 as a summer residence for the Liedekerke-Beaufort family. Due to the rising costs of maintenance and refurbishment the Château was abandoned by the family in 1991.
Followed a fire, a violent storm and the owner removing the hardwood floors, fireplaces and Italian blue marble to use in the neighbouring farm and another castle he owns in Italy. Despite the fact that the municipality of Celles had made several times a bid to buy the castle and the land it was built on, the family didn’t want to give it up. Apparently preferring to leave it decaying and crumbling. It lost its National Heritage status and a demolition permit was issued in 2014 and it was bulldozed.
Sadly, the story of the decaying Chateau Miranda isn’t that uncommon in Belgium, where locals live nonchalantly amongst countless, crumbling castles and edifices.
The heritage loss of this beautiful castle is frankly shocking and incomprehensible. Making it one of those many occasions when I’m ashamed to be Belgian.
As we moved back to Belgium in 2017 for two years and started hiking again only a few weeks after the castle was demolished, I don’t have any photos of my own. I can only share a few photos from others who sneaked inside just before it was demolished (David Baker).
This is how the British take care of their national heritage…find the 10 differences
Scotney Castle has a long and rich history. The earliest parts of the Old Castle were built in 1378. In the 1830s, the Hussey family build a new house at the top of the hill looking across the valley.
The “New” house
They transformed the Old Castle into a ruin, which is on an island on a small lake. The lake is surrounded by sloping, wooded gardens with fine collections of rhododendrons, azaleas and kalmia for spring colour, summer wisteria and roses. Beautiful in spring and surely spectacular in autumn.
The Old Castle and the moat
Picturesque Vision
As a result it’s now a property primarily celebrated as being one of the most significant survivals of a complete “Picturesque Vision“.
Christopher Hussey, took ownership of the house in 1952 and was acutely aware of the decline of the country house in England after the Second World War. He acted to secure the future of the estate by creating six flats in the house which aimed to improve its longevity as a home with the rents providing additional income.
Part of the ruins of the Old Castle
Old Castle and moat
He also bequeathed the property and collections to the National Trust in 1970. Several apartments in the castle and on the estate were let out by the Trust, with tenants including Prime Minister Margaret “Iron Lady” Thatcher who rented the Belfry flat for a time during the 1970s and 1980s
Ice house
The estate’s ice house. These were popular at the end of the 18th century. Thanks to the excellent insulation conditions, ice collected during winter from the moat could be stored for up to a year !
Sunken boat house
Scotney Castle has been in the ownership of the National Trust since Christopher Hussey’s death in 1970. The house remained a private residence of his widow, Betty Hussey, until June 2007 when the house also opened to visitors.
The National Trust.
This seems the ideal occasion for me to tell you something about the National Trust.
We visited a few of their historic buildings, gardens and protected landscapes already and were always amazed by the quality of the restoration, the care for detail and by the friendliness, knowledge and the warm welcome by the hundreds of volunteers we met onsite.
Scotney Castle is only one of the many jewels on the crown of the National Trust. We became members of the Trust as soon as we arrived in the UK. And haven’t regretted it for one minute.
And I love them even more after they pushed their chairman towards resignation amid discontent over his “woke” policies. (what do you call a “woke” droid? R2-Me2 🙂 )
The National Trust was founded in 1895. Historically, they acquired land by gift and sometimes by public subscription and appeal, gift from the former owners, or through the National Land Fund.
Country houses and estates still make up a significant part of its holdings, but it is also known for its protection of wild landscapes such as in the Lake District and Peak District.
As well as the great estates of titled families, it has acquired smaller houses including some whose significance is not architectural but through their association with famous people, for example the childhood homes of Paul McCartney and John Lennon.
The National Trust in a few numbers, and believe me they are staggering.
- One of the largest landowners in the United Kingdom, the Trust owns almost 250,000 hectares (620,000 acres; 2,500 km2; 970 sq mi) of land and landscapes.
The Trust owns or protects roughly one fifth of the coastline in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (780 miles (1,260 km)), and has a long-term campaign, Project Neptune, which seeks to acquire more. - Its properties include over 500 historic houses, castles, archaeological and industrial monuments, gardens, parks and nature reserves.
- The Trust has an annual income of over £680 million, largely from membership subscriptions, donations and legacies, direct property income, profits from its shops and restaurants, and investments. It also receives grants from a variety of organisations including other charities, government departments, local authorities and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
- In the year ending February 2020, the Trust had 5.95 million members. Members are entitled to free entry to Trust properties that are open to the general public also but for a charge.
- The trust is supported by volunteers, who now number over 53,000!
- They have 12,567 oil paintings in their collections. Artists represented in the Trust’s collections include Rembrandt, Hieronymous Bosch, El Greco, Peter Paul Rubens, Angelica Kauffmann, and Stanley Spencer
What are you waiting for … become a member also and support their fantastic cause!
