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The 6th Duke built a gatehouse at this end of the house with three gates. The central, largest gate led to the North Entrance, then the main entrance to the house. The north gate led to the service courtyard, while the matching south gate led to the original front door in the west front, which was relegated to secondary status in the Duke's time, but is now the family's private entrance again. Chatsworth House in Derbyshire is a historic English country estate that has served as the home of the Dukes of Devonshire and their ancestors since the mid-16th century. It is one of the finest country houses in the Peak District, drawing countless visitors into its opulent halls every year.
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Meanwhile, the 6th Duke’s bachelor lifestyle allowed Chatsworth to become a veritable hub of society entertainment. Many of the guest bedrooms were also adorned with magnificent wallpapers, indulgent fabrics and ornamental displays inspired by the Duke’s travels and love of luxury. In addition, Paxton was also responsible for the record-breaking creation of the Emperor’s Fountain, named after Tsar Nicholas II who was expected to visit Chatsworth in 1855. The 6th Duke, wanting to impress him, had Paxton create the fountain which reached heights of 90 metres. Despite Nicholas never actually visiting, today Chatsworth benefits from his amazing spectacle and has become one of the best points in which to photograph Chatsworth in all its resplendent beauty.
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This massive house sits in a beautiful garden, which is almost 105 acres. The beautiful enormous heritage house is over three hundred years old, and the house’s interior carries all signs of the aristocracy and the elegance of England. This heritage building served as the seat of the Cavendish family from the year 1549.
All the fun of the country fair! Alan Titchmarsh kicks off Chatsworth's three-day event in style with air disp - Daily Mail
All the fun of the country fair! Alan Titchmarsh kicks off Chatsworth's three-day event in style with air disp.
Posted: Fri, 01 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Chatsworth House & Gardens
Explore over 25 rooms in the stately home, including the Painted Hall, State Rooms and Sculpture Gallery. Discover the history of the Devonshire family and how seventeen generations have each contributed to the creation of one of Derbyshire's finest country houses. Beneath Chatsworth’s half-a-hectare lead roof there are over 300 rooms, 17 staircases, 459 windows and 2,084 lightbulbs. Looking after this stately pile requires the services of housekeepers, plumbers, electricians, seamstresses and joiners. The priceless art objects contained within benefit from the care of curators, archivists, textile conservators and a photo librarian. And that is just the house – outside work gardeners, foresters, gamekeepers, stockmen, farmers, shepherds, river-keepers, brewers and land-agents.

The ancestral seat of the illustrious Cavendish family, Chatsworth was built to be seen. Over the centuries, successive generations – the earls (and later dukes) of Devonshire – remodelled and embellished the house and filled it with treasures, creating a showcase of art and design intended to be enjoyed by all who came. Perhaps even more than books however, his love of sculpture was evident as the newly designed north wing could accommodate his growing sculpture collection. Explore Chatsworth Garden, the ever-evolving garden surrounding one of Derbyshire’s most popular country houses. The 105-acre garden is the product of nearly 500 years of careful cultivation and includes an arboretum, rock garden, fountains, sculptures and more. Chatsworth House has long been known as a centre for creativity and features art and artefacts that span 4,000 years.
Across the estate
There may have been up to 100 guests staying at any one time, and 150 servants looking after them, plus extra help drafted in from the village. This room houses the King’s Bed, which was reputedly made in 1723 for George II and was acquired by the 4th Duke as a perquisite in 1761. The bed is hung with crimson and gold and as the original curtains disintegrated in the sunlight, exact reproductions were made by Chatsworth’s in-house seamstresses, each one representing around 480 hours of handwork. VisitEngland would like to invite you to take part in a short survey about our website, it should take no more than a couple of minutes. Let Woodland Ways teach you the basics of bushcraft in a fun and safe environment whilst spending time outdoors and sleeping under the stars. We will send you the latest TV programmes, podcast episodes and articles, as well as exclusive offers from our shop and carefully selected partners.
History
Add to your Chatsworth experience with a guided tour or a trip up the Belvedere, just some of the activities available daily. Download our room cards in advance of your visit, and find out more about each historic space and the collection items on display. Together, the Duke and Paxton had grand ideas for the garden which would undergo an extensive renovation with their design plans, laying the foundation for much of what you see today.
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In the end the royal couple never came, but many a subsequent monarch did – the last, George V, in 1913, slept in the enormous canopy bed occupying the State Bedchamber. The king’s night’s sleep may not have been entirely restful – the bed had previously witnessed the dying moments of George II at Kensington Palace in 1760. If you have already registered an account and still can’t login, try setting a new password by clicking ‘Forgotten your password’. All members (except house and corporate members) need to register for an online account to be able to log in to the site. Chatsworth, home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire is set in the heart of the Peak District in Derbyshire, on the banks of the river Derwent.
Accessibility
Much older than American estates and with hundreds of years of lineage, this home will not disappoint. At one point, Queen Victoria decided that Hampton Court’s state apartment interior design should mimic that of Chatsworth House. Then there are several other gardens and greenhouses scattered across the estate for you to view. The River Derwent is just beside the house, and you can enjoy the views of the low hills between the Derwent and Wye valleys from the banks of the river. I’ve visited many times, often as a child, then returned several times as an adult ex-pat.
The private north stairs lead down to more private rooms on the ground floor of the West Front. In the centre is the West Entrance Hall, which is, once again, the family entrance. To the right on entering is a passage room known as the mineral room, which leads through to a study. Its great many books make it one of at least six libraries in the house.
You can compete and see who can complete it, get lost, or meet your secret love out of sight as many period films depict. Many mansions and estates of this era across the world have a maze. Often they are called “labyrinths.” Despite being referred to as the same, they are different. Despite selling various artifacts over the years, the house is still full of masterpieces, and there is plenty to see inside this home. As you tour, you see the artwork of Louis Laguerre and Antonio Verrio.