Chatsworth House, in Derbyshire, is one of the most beautiful and best-loved stately homes in England. Home of the Dukes of Devonshire for almost five centuries, it stands on the banks of the River Derwent, in the heart of the Peak District National Park, surrounded by a park designed by Capability Brown and by gardens with fountains, cascades and mazes. Inside it holds an extraordinary art collection, with masterpieces by Rembrandt, sculptures by Antonio Canova and precious furnishings.
History
The estate was bought in 1549 by Bess of Hardwick, one of the richest and most ambitious women of Elizabethan England, and her husband William Cavendish, who began building the first house. Mary, Queen of Scots was held prisoner here on several occasions. Between 1687 and 1707 the 1st Duke of Devonshire rebuilt the house in the Baroque style we see today. In the 19th century the 6th Duke expanded the collections and entrusted the gardens to the brilliant gardener Joseph Paxton, who experimented here with the iron and glass glasshouses that would lead him to design the Crystal Palace in London. Chatsworth is still the home of the Cavendish family, run by a charitable foundation.
- 1549Bess of Hardwick and William Cavendish buy the estate
- 1569Mary, Queen of Scots is held prisoner at Chatsworth
- 1687-1707The 1st Duke rebuilds the house in Baroque style
- 1696The great Cascade is built
- 1844Joseph Paxton creates the Emperor Fountain
- 2005Chatsworth is Pemberley in the film Pride and Prejudice
What to see
The house
The route takes you through the Painted Hall, with its walls and ceiling painted with scenes from the life of Julius Caesar, the great staircase, the Baroque State Rooms with painted ceilings and wood carvings, the library with thousands of volumes and the chapel. The collections include paintings by Rembrandt, Tintoretto, Veronese, Van Dyck and Reynolds, Old Master drawings and contemporary works. The Sculpture Gallery holds neoclassical statues, including works by Canova such as the statue of Letizia Bonaparte, Napoleon's mother, and the Sleeping Endymion.
The gardens
The gardens cover more than 40 hectares. Their symbol is the Cascade, a water staircase of 1696 descending the hill towards the house. The Emperor Fountain, created by Paxton in 1844, throws one of the highest jets of water in England, powered by gravity alone. There is also a yew maze, a rock garden with huge boulders, a modern glasshouse, the kitchen garden and contemporary sculptures among the trees.
The park and the farmyard
The park, over 400 hectares and free to enter, is perfect for walks and picnics along the river, among deer and sheep. For children there is a farmyard with animals and an adventure playground in the woods. The Farm Shop sells produce from the estate.
Pride and Prejudice
According to a long tradition, Jane Austen was inspired by Chatsworth when describing Pemberley, Mr Darcy's estate in Pride and Prejudice, and in 2005 the house was chosen as Pemberley in the film starring Keira Knightley. The bust of Mr Darcy used in the film is in the Sculpture Gallery.
Practical information
The house and gardens are open from spring to early January, with a large Christmas market; tickets should be bought online. The park is accessible all year round. Opening times and prices are on the official website.
Getting there
- By train: to Chesterfield or Sheffield, then a bus to Chatsworth.
- By car: about 45 minutes from Sheffield, near Bakewell; pay car park.
- By air: Manchester and East Midlands airports are about an hour away.
Nearby
- Bakewell, a small town famous for its dessert, the Bakewell pudding.
- Haddon Hall, a medieval manor house, and the stone villages of the Peak District.
- Sheffield and Derby.
Tips
- How long: at least half a day, ideally a full day.
- When to go: May to September for the gardens; November and December for the Christmas decorations.
- A tip: walk up to the top of the Cascade and turn around: the view over the house and the Derwent valley is perfect.