The remarkable Bess of Hardwick built the house and created the gardens in the 16th century. The layout of the gardens with their walled enclosures have changed little since the 17th century.
Enter the gardens from the West Court into the walled compartment which is divided into quarters and edged with yew and hornbeam hedges. Enjoy the South Border, the Orchard and the Herb Garden which grows both culinary and medicinal herbs. The Stumpery is at the south-west corner of the Herb Garden while to the south-east is a pavilion similar to those in the West Court.
The windows are exceptionally large at a time when glass was extremely expensive – the Hall has been described as having ‘more glass than wall’.
Hardwick Hall was given to the National Trust by the Devonshires in 1950.
Dogs are allowed in the Park.
National Trust members visit for free.
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Hardwick Hall was built between 1590 and 1597 for Bess of Hardwick and was designed by the architect, Robert Smythson. Smythson also designed the Long Hall and Terraced Gardens at nearby Haddon Hall. A prodigy house, a large country houses built by courtiers and other rich families in the Elizabethan/Jacobean era, it has six banqueting houses on the top of the towers which can only be reached from the roof. These are sometimes open to the public.
Bess of Hardwick married four times, and from relative obscurity she became one of the wealthiest and most powerful women of her time. Her second husband was Sir William Cavendish and after buying land in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, work began on the creation of Chatsworth in 1552. Their son William who was made 1st Earl of Devonshire in 1618, decided to make Chatsworth his main family home.
Make sure you leave enough time to take a tour of the house which Bess finished building in 1599. Described by Mark Girouard as ‘the finest surviving example’ of a 16th century house, climb the viewing platform to admire the stunning plaster frieze illustrating hunting scenes; the room has changed little since it was built. There is also a wonderful collection of Elizabethan tapestries and embroidery.
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