Chatsworth |
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Set in the heart of the Peak District National Park, Chatsworth is one of the Treasure Houses of England. It is the family home of the Dukes of Devonshire.
History
The house was built on land purchased by Sir William Cavendish in 1549 for £600. Sir William started construction of the house in 1552, but he did not live to see its completion, as he died in 1557. His widow, Bess of Hardwick completed the building work, and bequeathed the house to
her son, Henry Cavendish. Henry sold the house to his younger brother William, who became the 1st Earl of Devonshire in 1618. The house was rebuilt by the 4th Earl/1st Duke from 1685-1707.The House
26 rooms are open to the public within the main house. These include the Library, which was originally the 1st Duke's Long Gallery which was re-fitted as a library by the 6th Duke, the Painted Hall which was the 1st Duke's ceremonial entrance hall, and the Great Dining Room, where the first meal served was for the Princess
(later Queen) Victoria in 1832. The stunning chapel was built between 1688 and 1693 by the 1st Duke, and has remained unaltered ever since.The Collection
Chatsworth contains a magnificent private art collection which has been built up by the Cavendish family
over 450 years. Much of the collection is on display in the public rooms of the house, and includes paintings by Rembrandt, Lanseer, Gainsborough and Freud, and sculptures by Canova and Frink.The Garden & Park
The Garden extends to 105 acres, and includes many features such as the giant rockeries(1692), the cascade (1696), the canal (1702) and the gravity-fed emperor fountain (1843) which can emit a jet of water 90 metres into the air. There are 5 miles of walks in
the Garden alone, with rare trees, shrubs, the cottage, Kitchen and Rose Gardens, temples, streams and ponds.Children can get lost in the maze, paddle in the Cascade, see the tallest gravity-fed fountain in the world, find the willow tree that becomes a fountain, the giant foot, the trompe l'oeil violin and the Rolls Royce jet engine fan.
The 1000 acre Park surrounding Chatsworth was landscaped by Capability Brown in the 18th Century. The Park is open throughout the year at no charge, a free car park is provided and everyone is welcome to walk, play and picnic in the Park.
For Children
The Farmyard is home to cows, pigs, sheep, goats, horses, chickens and fish. There is an opportunity for children to get
close to the animals as well as a milking demonstration every afternoon.The woodland Adventure Playground thrills and delights children of all ages. They can play on the swings, slides, the spiral shute, commando nets and in the sand and water-play areas.
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Opening Times
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(2008 times)
The house, garden, farmyard, adventure playground, shops and restaurant are open every day from the 16th March to 21st December.The Park is open throughout the year. House: 11.00am - last admission 4.30pm. Garden: 11.00am - last admission 5.00pm. Closes 6.00pm. June, July and August: Garden opens at 10.00am. Farmyard & Adventure Playground: 10.30am - last admission 4.30pm. Closes 5.30pm. Restaurant: 10.15am - 5.00pm Hot food served at lunchtime. The Cavendish Rooms: 11.00am - 4.30pm. Shops: 11.00am - 5.30pm. |
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Admission Charges
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(2008 prices)
House and Garden:Adult 11.25, (£12.50); Senior citizen/student £9.25, (£10.50); Child £6.00 (£6.50); Family 2 adults and up to 4 children £28.00 (£33.00). Prices shown above in brackets apply to Winter Season. Pre-booked Groups: 12 or more Adults £8.25 (£10.50); Senior citizen/student £6.70 (£9.00). Garden Only: Adult £6.00; Senior citizen/student £4.50; Child £2.75; Family Ticket £14.50> Farmyard and adventure playground: Adult and Child £4.50 each; Child under 3yrs Free. Groups: 5 or more £3.90 per person; Senior Citizen £3.50; Family pass to all attractions £42.00. Car park £1.50. |
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Directions
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| Chatsworth is 8 miles north of Matlock, off the B6012. It is 16 miles from junction 29 of the M1, signposted via Chesterfield, and it is 42 miles from junction 19 of the M6. The railway station at Chesterfield is 30 minutes away. |
| Show map of Chatsworth... |
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Chatsworth Postcode for SatNav: DE45 1PP |
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Nearby Attractions
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Peak District National Park
(3 Miles)*
The Peak District National Park covers 555 sq. miles at the southern end of the Pennines between Sheffield and Manchester. It was the first National Park to be set up in Britain in 1951. |
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Haddon Hall
(3 Miles)*
Haddon Hall - the Derbyshire Home of the Duke of Rutland, has belonged to the family since the late 16th century. |
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Eyam Hall
(5 Miles)*
Eyam Hall has been the much loved home of the Wright family for over 300 years. A guided tour of this remarkably unspoilt 17th century manor house affords a glimpse of history in miniature. |
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Nearby Hotels
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Nearby Self Catering
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