Chatsworth House

In the heart of the Peak District is Chatsworth House, the beautiful home of the 12th Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.   In 1549 Sir William Cavendish, with his wife Bess of Hardwick, bought the estate of Chatsworth and began to build on the site of the present house. He died in 1557 and the building was completed by his widow. Originally a 3-storey Elizabethan building it virtually covered the area of the present house. Between 1686 and 1707 the house was remodelled for the 4th Earl, who was later made a duke by the king after supporting William and Mary to the throne.   By 1707 the whole house had been rebuilt.  A team of the finest craftsmen took 8 years to complete the painted ceilings, panelled walls and wrought iron work. Between 1755 and 1764 the 4th Duke commissioned James Paine to build the magnificent stables, often described as some of the most baroque buildings in England. In the 18th century Lancelot "Capability" Brown was commissioned by the 4th Duke to replant the garden and create a landscaped park. In the 19th century Joseph Paxton became the 6th Duke’s head gardener at Chatsworth House.  He transformed the garden by building more than 20 glasshouses, including the Great Conservatory which inspired his work on the 1851 Crystal Palace.  This was the time of the ‘plant collectors’ and the Duke sponsored many collecting expeditions which ensured that many of these rare plants still grow at Chatsworth House.  Paxton constructed a vast rock garden, created new streams, waterfalls and the magnificent 298-foot high Emperor Fountain, the highest fountain in Europe. Part of the village on the estate, Edensor, was demolished and rebuilt, out of sight of the main house. The 11th Duke of Devonshire and the Duchess added many new features to the estate including a Serpentine hedge, a maze, kitchen garden, cottage garden and sensory garden as well numerous interesting sculptures placed throughout the gardens. It is rumoured that when Jane Austen visited the Peak District in 1811, she took Chatsworth Park as inspiration for the description of Pemberley in Pride and Prejudice. Consequently film makers have often used Chatsworth, most recently it was used as setting for the filming of the Oscar nominated film, Pride & Prejudice; Chatsworth is one of the grandest houses in the Peak District.   Find out how Chatsworth is linked to the Mitford Girls and the Kennedy’s.  This fascinating historic house and estate brims with interesting and famous works of art, sculpture with collections gathered by the family over generations.  Visited by Prince Charles, Chatsworth House offers you the opportunity to wander through the magnificent 300 year old state rooms which reflect wealth and grandeur.   "Chatsworth’s greatest strength is that its owners have refused to let the garden rest on its Victorian laurels.  It continues to grow and develop, and that is what makes it one of the most vibrant gardens in Britain".  Alan Titchmarsh 2003. The 105 acres garden at Chatsworth House is a delight and reflects many eras in landscape design.  With its gravity-fed waterworks, spectacular rockeries, five miles of walks, greenhouses, rare trees and shrubs, formal vistas and views of the countryside it is a must for any visitors to the Peak District. Tailor Made Stays will ensure that you have as much time as you like to wander at your leisure round this fascinating house and garden.