Chatsworth House

The stunning house and fabulous grounds of Chatsworth estate, with it's panoramic views, is one of Britain's best loved and celebrated historic houses and estates It offers attractions for everyone to enjoy, throught the year, from world famous works of art to amazing fountains, lovely shops and over a hundred miles of free walks. 

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

Built to be enjoyed, Chatsworth House and its estate has a long tradition of welcoming worldwide who are drawn by its welcoming atmosphere. Whether it is to experience the treasures contained within the house; or to walk through the lovely park or gardens; you can 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 offers something for every visitor.

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

Domesday records show the settlements, named as Chetelsuorde (Chatsworth), Ednesovre (Edensor), and Langeleie (Langley) and were divided between the King, who claimed Chatsworth & Langley, and the High Sheriff of Derbyshire, 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 extensive tracts of Derbyshire land. They then began building the first residence in 1552.

The Hunting Tower, 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 hugely but are still called the Queen of Scots Apartments and can still be seen by visitors. 

In 1694, the fourth Earl was created the first Duke of Devonshire in recognition of his role in helping William of Orange & hi wife, Mary to the throne.
He made momentous changes to the original house style: 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, added grand formal gardens, and built the famous water Cascade, much loved today by visiting children, as they play on summer days. 

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

A new northroad was added above the west bank of the Derwent, and all the village dwellings of Edensor, which were visible from the new West Front of Chatsworth House, had to be taken down and moved across the road, so they could not be seen from the house. 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 fabulous 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 families tables, but this was eventually demolished 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 Estate Village

The sixth Duke had the village of Edensor reconstructed further west and out of view form the main house, 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, quaint tea-rooms and it's own post office - St. Peters churchyard has the 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 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 it's 500 years and is totals around 105 acres of stunning landscape which offers true beauty throughout all the seasons. There are around five miles of free 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 and it offers access to dogs on leads with their owners. Water features include the Emperor Fountain, with the highest  water jet in the world. It also offers visitors the twenty-four steps of the 200 yard, 300 year-old Cascade, the Willow Tree Fountain, trough waterfall, and the marvellous 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, so there is plenty to see and do.

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.

Visit Peak District Online for more information