The seat of the Duke of Devonshire, Chatsworth House is one of the finest stately homes in the world – a masterclass in English Baroque architecture. Containing works of art that span 4,000 years, including ancient Roman and Egyptian sculpture, masterpieces by Rembrandt and Veronese, and works by modern greats, like David Nash and Lucian Freud, it’s more than a home; it’s an art gallery, museum, residence, and working farm all-rolled into one. Today, we discuss where is Chatsworth House.
This glorious estate, covering 105 acres, set along the meandering Derwent River, is easily recognizable from countless films, television shows, and music videos, including Pride and Prejudice, The Duchess, The Crown, and even Peaky Blinders. This piece will give a good idea about the famed facility & exactly where is Chatsworth House.
But where is Chatsworth House? Can you stay there? And how big is the grand old stately home? Let’s find out!
Where is Chatsworth House?
Chatsworth House is set in the Derbyshire Dales, in the heart of the English Midlands. Not far from the quaint market town of Bakewell (where the Bakewell tart was first baked), Chatsworth’s verdant landscape is a blend of wooded hills, riverside grasslands, and heather moors – it’s a microcosm of a country long-past, the England of Byron and Austen.
While the house itself, dating to the mid-16th century, is the main attraction, the estate and grounds include classical gardens, a long cascading fountain, a children’s adventure playground, miles of trails, and even a hunting tower perched high on the hill.
Visitors would be foolish to miss the renowned farm shop – where all the produce, from freshly baked pies to steaks to cheeses, comes from the estate’s 35,000 acres of land or local businesses.
It’s not an overstatement to say there’s something for everyone.
How Big is Chatsworth House?
Built by Bess of Hardwick, Chatsworth has a large quadrangular layout – about 170 feet from north to south and 190 feet from east to west. Despite being born in the Elizabethan period, Elizabeth Cavendish – or Bess of Hardwick, as she later became known – was a shrewd businesswoman and social climber.
From her lowly beginnings, she rose to become one of the richest people in England, with interests in mining and glass-making workshops. During her life, she built numerous properties, including the new and old halls at Hardwick and the property in Chelsea. However, her most famous project was Chatsworth House.
This wasn’t merely a house fit for a queen; it was fit for Bess herself – created according to her meticulous standards and exacting eye.
Bess did more than build in stone; she built a dynasty. And the generations of the Cavendish family – the Dukes of Devonshire – that followed added embellishments and adornments to her legacy.
The house defined the architecture of the period: there were no attics or hipped roofs, iconic in the era. Rather it was a revolution of English Baroque architecture, full of dramatic and sculptural facades.
Inside, one finds a grand suite of staterooms, the Painted Hall containing murals by Louis Laguerre, the Great Chamber, and more. So fine, so regal were the interiors that Queen Victoria modeled the state apartments at Hampton Court on their counterparts at Chatsworth.
Can You Stay at Chatsworth House?
Unfortunately, Chatsworth House does not allow visitors to stay in the house itself – that’s reserved for the Cavendish family. However, you can stay in a collection of stunning hotels, inns, and cottages dotted throughout the Estate.
The Cavendish Hotel at Baslow, for example, is the perfect English countryside retreat. From the 28 sumptuous bedrooms to the three AA Rosette Gallery Restaurant, you can relax in style in one of the Peak District’s most picturesque villages.
Elsewhere, you can stay at the Devonshire Arms at Pilsley, a charming village inn, or one of the cozy bolt holes that include converted barns, stables, farmhouses, and the world-famous Hunting Tower, Swiss Cottage, and Russian Cottage.
Where will you stay?
Chatsworth House: The Greatest Stately Home in the World?
Chatsworth stands today as a testament to the visionary genius of Bess and 16 generations of descendants. No visitor can fail to marvel at its splendor, to rejoice in its gardens and rooms, or to spend hours of childish bliss in the adventure playground and farmyard.
But Chatsworth is never better than at Christmas. As the chilly winter nights darken, this wonderland becomes a magical spectacle of lights and festivities.
Little wonder that Chatsworth attracts visitors from all over the world. Discover the vast collection of art, learn about Bess, or simply wander through the forests and along the river – Chatsworth is somewhere you’ll never forget.
Published at Thu, 08 Dec 2022 14:37:28 +0000
