Chatsworth House Derbyshire

Chatsworth House, Derbyshire

History | Highlights | Garden | Guests | Access

Chatsworth House is one of the most spectacular stately homes in Britain and one of its most popular, drawing thousands of visitors each day.

The main house

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 of Hardwick Hall fame and the wife of the Earl of Shrewsbury, built her Tudor mansion here in 1549.

Mary Queen of Scots was a house guest here during the 1570s, dividing her time in semi-house arrest with the Old Hall in Buxton.

The stables and old servants’ quarters that now house the restaurant and cafe

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 1750s and 1820s respectively.

Fountain in one of the courtyards at the main 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.

The Cascade, Chatsworth

Highlights

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.

As well as the classical art on display, Chatsworth also exhibits a large collection of modern art including works by such contemporary artists as Damien Hirst in The Chapel.

Garden

The garden at Chatsworth is equally as fantastic as the main house and offers the Maze, the Emperor Fountain (below), the Serpentine Hedge, the Cascade (above) and the Rock Garden.

Emperor Fountain

Famous Guests

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.

Ceiling painting at Chatsworth

Nearby

Other places to see within easy reach of Chatsworth include Haddon Hall, 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.

Information

Chatsworth House (www.chatsworth.org)
Chatsworth
Bakewell
Derbyshire
DE45 1PP
Registered Charity 511149
Map of Chatsworth

Parking is free if booked in advance online.

Dining Hall

Admission For House, Garden & Farmyard

Adults 20 GBP, Child 13 GBP, OAP/Student 17 GBP

Access – Getting There

The nearest railway station to Chatsworth is Chesterfield which has rail connections to London St Pancras. The Transpeak Service bus runs from Derby to Buxton. The 199 bus connects Buxton with Stockport and Manchester Airport.