Chatsworth House is a breath-taking Grade I listed house and stables in the Derbyshire Dales. Set within a whopping 1,822-acre park, boasting a 105-acre garden, a farmyard and adventure playground, plus one of Europe’s most significant private art collections- it’s safe to say that Chatsworth really is a sight to behold. We spent a frosty winters day rambling around the expansive estate, tasting the delectable flavours on offer in the Cavendish Restaurant and marvelling at the Christmas displays and art exhibited throughout the house. This year’s Chatsworth at Christmas is rooted in the natural world and sustainability, with an emphasis on using natural materials and handmade objects to decorate the house.
The History (in brief)
The history of Chatsworth begins with Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury, better known as Bess of Hardwick. A native of Derbyshire and from a modest background, she grew to become the second most powerful woman in Elizabethan England after the Queen. Bess married four times, and it was with her second husband, Sir William Cavendish, that the Cavendish line which continues today was established. Chatsworth House has been home to sixteen generations of the Cavendish family for nearly five centuries. Each has contributed to its careful evolution and preservation, creating the estate, extensive archives and art collections enjoyed today. Chatsworth remains home to the 12th Duke and Duchess. They are involved in the operation via the Charitable Trust.
The Garden
Every room in the house offers a perfectly framed vista of the garden and surrounding estate. The 105-acre garden is the product of nearly 500 years of careful cultivation and includes an arboretum, rock garden, fountains, sculptures and more.
Impressively, the garden retains many original features, including the Canal Pond, Cascade and 1st Duke’s Greenhouse. Today, the garden is managed by a team of 20 gardeners, 3 trainees and 50 volunteers.
The House
As soon as the car turns into the estate and begins the approach to the house, you know that you’re in for a treat. Entry to the house is by timed ticket, so purchasing house tickets in advance to guarantee your preferred time slot is recommended (that way you’ll also benefit from free parking too) We arrived at around 11am, we wandered around the house marvelling at the various displays, the art and peering out of the windows at the garden.
The Art
Chatsworth House is more than just a stately home, the work exhibited in some of the rooms rival the National Portrait Gallery or V&A for the sheer variety of world-class art. From Rembrandt to Lucian Freud, there are masterpieces from modern artists alongside traditional family portraiture. Several of the rooms boast spectacular frescos that wouldn’t look out of place in the Vatican. There are over 25 rooms to explore, from the magnificent Painted Hall, regal State Rooms, restored Sketch Galleries and beautiful Sculpture Gallery.
A Nordic Christmas at Chatsworth
Every year the team at Chatsworth transform the house and gardens creating imaginative and one-off displays. This year’s Christmas theme took inspiration from Nordic Christmas traditions, myth, and legends. Deep Midwinter: A Nordic Christmas at Chatsworth takes stylistic queues from Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway where long winters are embraced with traditions to celebrate light and the beauty of nature. Impressive handmade displays were made using wood, branches and cut paper. The garden was lit up to highlight the trees and water features.
The Cavendish Restaurant
We stopped for a spot of lunch at the Cavendish Restaurant set in the18th century stables. The Cavendish serves high quality seasonal produce from the Estate and local providers. The service in the restaurant is first-class, the team really went above and beyond to make sure that we were comfortable and catered for. The restaurant does not take online reservations at lunchtime, unless you’re having afternoon tea, so popping in as soon as you arrive to see if you can put your name down for a table that day is advised.
We loved roaming around the extensive gardens, the house and enjoying a delicious meal in the restaurant. A personal highlight was watching the sun go down over the 90 metre high Emperor Fountain. Way back in 1843 the Tsar Nicholas I of Russia informed the Duke that he was likely to visit Chatsworth, in anticipation of this visit, William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire, decided to construct the world’s highest fountain. It might not be the worlds highest (that’s the King Fahd’s Fountains in Jeddah, reaching a height of 1023 feet, incase you were wondering) but it is non the less impressive. If you get the opportunity to visit Chatsworth, then do.
