British Stately Homes: Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House, Derbyshire
Topping the list of the nation's favourite stately homes, Chatsworth in Derbyshire in the north of England, has much to offer its thousands of annual visitors, who flock to the beautiful house, gardens and lake.
History
Chatsworth House is still owned by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and has been owned through 16 generations of the Cavendish family since Bess of Hardwick, the wife of the Earl of Shrewbury, built her Tudor mansion here in 1549. Bess later separated from her husband and built nearby Hardwick Hall.
Mary Queen of Scots was a house guest here during the 1570's, dividing her time in semi house arrest with the Old Hall in Buxton.
Chatsworth was developed from the 17th century onwards especially under the 6th Duke of Devonshire in the early 19th century who employed architect Jeffry Wyatville to modernize and expand the property. Capability Brown and Joseph Paxton worked on the gardens in the 1750's and 1820's.
What to See at Chatsworth House
Over 30 rooms of this magnificent house are open to the public and display one of Europe's largest private art collections of paintings with works by Tintoretto, van Dyck, Rembrandt's Portrait of an Old Man, Frans Hals and Veronese, furniture, sculptures, books, photographs and clothing.
Highlights of Chatsworth House include the Great Dining Room with its table set as it was for the dinner party attended by King George V and Queen Mary in 1933, the State Rooms, the Sculpture Gallery and the Library. The garden at Chatsworth is equally as fantastic as the main house and offers the Maze, the Emperor Fountain, the Serpentine Hedge, the Cascade and the Rock Garden.
Famous visitors to Chatsworth House include Queen Elizabeth II, Lady Diana, Prince Philip and Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales. Chatsworth House was known for its lavish entertaining and parties in the early years of the 20th century.
Other places to see within easy reach of Chatsworth include Bakewell (10 minutes), Matlock, the Hope Valley, Peveril Castle, Pavilion Gardens in Buxton (25 minutes), Castleton, Eyam Hall, Eyam Stocks and the outdoor sports resort of Hathersage.
Access - Getting to Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House (www.chatsworth.org)
Chatsworth
Bakewell
Derbyshire
DE45 1PP
Registered Charity 511149
Opening times vary according to the season. Consult the website above for full details.
Admission For House, Garden & Farmyard
Adults 24 GBP, Child 14.50 GBP
Access
The nearest station to Chatsworth is Chesterfield which has rail connections to London St Pancras. The Transpeak Service bus runs from Manchester to Stockport, Buxton, Bakewell, Matlock, Derby and on to Nottingham.
The 58 bus service operated by High Peak runs between Buxton and Macclesfield, stopping at Chatsworth on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
The 170 bus service operated by Hulley's runs between Chesterfield and Bakewell, stopping at Chatsworth on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
The 218 bus service operated by TM Travel runs between Sheffield and Bakewell, stopping at Chatsworth daily.
Nearby
The fortified manor house of Haddon Hall is a short drive away.
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