Chatsworth House, Derbyshire Duke and Duchess of Devonshire
The home of the Dukes of Devonshire, Chatsworth is one of the true treasure houses of Britain, set in extensive parklands beside the River Derwent. Begun as an Elizabethan mansion by Bess of Hardwick, rebuilt starting in 1686. Everything is on a massive scale, opulent and designed to impress. The first house at Chatsworth was the work of Bess of Hardwick and her second husband, Sir William Cavendish. Bess convinced Sir William to sell his lands elsewhere and build a new house at Chatsworth on the site of an older manor. Construction began in 1552 and went on in fits and starts over the ensuing decades. When Sir William died in 1557 Bess married twice more. The second of those marriages was to George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury. Queen Elizabeth appointed Shrewsbury to the post of gaoler to Mary, Queen of Scots. Over the period 1569-1584 Mary spent considerable time in captivity at Chatsworth, and her suite of rooms in the east end of the house is still known as the Queen of Scots Apartments. The 4th Earl (1640-1707) had the south front torn down in 1686 to make way for a magnificent suite of State apartments to receive a visit from William and Mary. He must have had an inkling that he was going to need showpiece rooms in keeping with a rise in status; in 1694 he was created first Duke of Devonshire. Building continued at a fast pace under the first Duke; the East, West, and North Fronts, Long Gallery (now the Library) and Painted Hall followed the State Apartments. Grillet was brought in to construct the wonderful Cascade, a man-made waterfall to the west of the house. The Cascade needed a focal point; a classical temple at the head of the drop, and Thomas Archer was called in to provide this and the design for the North Front. George London and Henry Wise designed extensive formal gardens, and in 1702 a hill was levelled to provide space for the new Canal Pond (see photo above). The second Duke did not alter the fabric of the house to any great degree, but
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Photo credit: © Studio9 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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Keywords: building, chatsworth, country, countryside, derbyshire, devonshire, duchess, duke, estate, garden, home, listed, mary, national, pile, queen, river, scots, stately, trees, trust, woods
