Chatsworth House

The fabulous house and grounds of Chatsworth estate, with it's panoramic views, is one of Britain's best loved and celebrated historic houses and estates having found itself mentioned in many works of English literature. It offers attractions and facilities for everyone to enjoy, throught the year, from famous works of art to amazing fountains,  elegant shops and over a hundred miles of free walks. 

It is the ancestral home of the Dukes of Devonshire's and Cavendish family, and is set in the real heart of England, the stunning Peak District National Park, in Derbyshire. It is therefore surrounded by one of the most magnificent landscapes in the country.

Built to be enjoyed, Chatsworth House and its estate has a long tradition of welcoming visitors from around the world; you will be drawn by its welcoming atmosphere. Whether it is to experience the treasures of the house; to walk through the beautiful park or gardens; enjoy the cafe or restaurant fayre; visit the child friendly farmyard; look for garden plants and furniture at their garden centre or even to visit the farm shop which makes use of much of the estate produce, Chatsworth has something for every visitor, all year round.

Before the Norman's conquered Britain, there were three settlements in the area owned by a Saxon named Chetel & his partner Leofnoth.

On Domesday the settlements, named as Chetelsuorde (Chatsworth), Ednesovre (Edensor), and Langeleie (Langley) were divided between the King, who claimed Chatsworth & Langley, and the High Sheriff of Derbyshire, Henry de Ferrers, who took Edensor. These manors were not re-united until 1549 when Sir William Cavendish and his wife, the famous Bess of Hardwick bought them in 1549, along with massive tracts of other Derbyshire land. They then began building the first big house here in 1552.

The Hunting Tower, located on the wooded hill to the east, was built in the 1580's, and was frequented by Bess of Hardwick along with Mary Queen of Scots, who was kept prisoner here under the wardship of Sir George Talbot. The Earl of Shrewsbury (Bess's 4th husband) was also a frequent visitor at various times between 1569 and 1584. Queen Mary's rooms, on the east side of the house, have been changed beyond all recognition but are still called the Queen of Scots Apartments and are still accessible to visitors. 

In 1694, the fourth Earl was created the first Duke of Devonshire in recognition of his role in bringing William of Orange & Mary to the English throne. He made major changes to the original Elizabethan style house: rebuilding the south front, adding the glorious State Apartments and rebuilding the east front with it's Painted Hall and Long Gallery. 

The Duke then built the new west front between 1699 and 1702 to a personal design, and created the bowed front of the north wing, to create the masterpiece that exists today. 

He added the Canal Pond, created formal gardens on a grand scale, and built the famous Cascade. 

The `New Chatsworth' was finished just before his death in 1707. The Fourth Duke (1720-1764) made massive changes to the landscape after altering the main approach to the house from the east to the west. He employed the famous landscape designer `Capability' Brown and architect James Paine to straighten the river and extend the park up the slope to the west.

A new north/south road was added above the west bank of the Derwent, famously, and all the village dwellings of Edensor which were visible from the new West Front of Chatsworth House were taken down and moved across the road, so they could not be seen. Paine also designed and built the ornate stone bridge upstream of the house in 1762. 

The Sixth Duke, (1790-1858) engaged Sir Geoffrey Wyatville to build the long North Wing and then employed Joseph Paxton as his Head Gardener in 1826. Paxton was responsible for the design and construction of the Emperor Fountain, (which can reach a height of over 280ft,) and the Great Conservatory, three quarters of an acre of glasshouse which allowed the estate gardeners to produce exotic fruit and vegetables for the Dukes table, but this was demolished a century later giving way to today's the Maze grows in its place. (It was Paxton who  also designed and built the Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition) 

The sixth Duke had the village of Edensor reconstructed further west, and today this unique village, with every house built in a different European style of architecture, is home mainly to the Chatsworth estate workers. Edensor has it's own lovely church, elegant tea-rooms and own post office - St. Peters churchyard has the much visited graves of many Dukes of Devonshire, including that of the Sixth Duke alongside that of his Head gardener, Sir Joseph Paxton. 

Nearby lies Kathleen Kennedy, sister of the late US President John F Kennedy and widow of the Tenth Duke's eldest son, the Marquis of Hartington, who was killed in action in 1944.

The Chatsworth House Garden has evolved over almost 500 years and is around 105 acres of magical landscape which is beautiful in all seasons. There are around five miles of walks with rare specimen trees, hedges, temples, sculptures, streams and wildlife ponds, ideal for picnics. An added bonus being that  there are no signs saying `keep off the grass - dogs on leads are very welcome to also enjoy the surrounds. Water features include the famous Emperor Fountain, with the highest jet in the world, the twenty-four steps of the 200 yard, 300 year-old Cascade, the Willow Tree Fountain, trough waterfall, and the fascinating water-powered sculpture known as Revelation. The late 11th Duke added many new features including the Serpentine Hedge, the Maze, Kitchen Garden, Cottage Garden, and the new Sensory Garden.

The Palace of the Peak, which is another name for Chatsworth in it's glory, is a family home which was built to be shared with its visitors. Is is well worth a visit, but make sure you have enough time to do the whole place justice.