Posted on by Peter

Chatsworth Estate, House and Gardens, Derbyshire.

Saturday 28th – Monday 30th June 2025

We spent a long weekend within the grounds of Chatsworth Estate, on a rally with the Autosleeper Owners Club. Our thanks to Al, Barbara, Jackie and John for the efficient organisation and stewarding of the event. We were made to feel most welcome.

Entering through these gates, made us feel like royalty

Chatsworth House is a stately home near Bakewell and the land has been in the possession of the Cavendish family since 1549. The original house being built on the site, by Bess of Hardwick, who was then the wife of Sir William Cavendish. She continued to live in the house (one of several she owned), after his death.

The House:

The Entrance

The entrance hall and staircase, designed to impress.

Entrance hall ceiling and view from the upstairs corner balcony.
The Chapel ceiling and a highly ornate staircase
The Chapel
Some beautiful textiles and dresses
Part of a small collection of fine lacework
The centrepiece in an inner courtyard
One of many finely illustrated books on display
An amazing four poster and a view through to the large library (not open to the public)
Some modern art installations
Dining Room
In the music room, this hanging violin is actually a painting
View of the gardens and fountain, from the house
Two life-sized lions in the sculpture collection

The Estate:

The gardens and grounds today, owe much to the work of the Victorian landscaper, Capability Brown, with extensive gardens, which include an impressively high gravity-fed water fountain, sitting within an extensive deer park.

Part of the huge herd of deer
The hunting lodge on the hill above, and a game of cricket in the grounds
Thatched collages, just outside the grounds, in Baslow.

The Gardens:

A chair made of half-dollar coins.
The Cascade (under repair)
Sculptures and the rockery

There used to be a huge glasshouse where the maze is today. You can see a model and the footprint in the stone walls of the garden in the two images below:

The fountain.

That is all for now. TTFN and See-u-later.

2 Replies to “Chatsworth Estate, House and Gardens, Derbyshire.”

    1. Yes, I understand what you mean. The whole place is an expression of extreme wealth and in many cases over the top. But I expect that is a modern perspective (first time I could claim to be modern!)

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