Whats Chats Worth? (Chatsworth House)

Member Name: werewolf2

Product:	Chatsworth House
Date:	07/07/04 (298 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: plenty to see, never boring, spacious

Disadvantages: can be expensive, tiring

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Chatsworth House, Baslow near Bakewell ? was the home until the recent death of the late 11th Duke, and his wife the Duchess (now the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire, Deborah, nee Mitford (who celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary in 2001). Chatsworth House built by Bess, Countess of Shrewsbury (owner of Hardwick Hall) when she was married to William Cavendish, Earl of Devonshire. The earl?s descendants, later helped William of Orange and his wife Mary to the throne (overthrowing James I) (see item on my Derbyshire article about Revolution House) to be promoted to Dukedom. It was said that the reason they became Earls of Devonshire and not Derbyshire is because there was already an Earl of Derby and the Devonshire title was the only one available at the time!

The 12th Duke of Devonshire, formerly Lord Hartington, continues to allow visitors to this stately home and in May 2004 launched a website www.chatsworth.org which has information on events, the history, exhibitions, times of opening etc. A very good website to say it has only recently been launched.

There have also been improved bus links from Chesterfield, Ripley, Matlock and Bakewell with a "green travel initiative" with regular link-ups with a Chatsworth Estate minibus, which takes you through the Golden Gate entrance (not usually open to the public) and straight to the front door. The initiative also includes a money-off voucher for the house and garden if you travel by these buses.

Open to the public all year round for walks and most of the year for access to the farm, house and gardens. Various large events held here annually, including the Angling Fair, Horse Trials, and other events held less frequently like the Guide/Scout International Peak camps, held about every 4 years or so.

I have never visited the farm or the adventure playground, but have heard rave reviews about them from other peop
le.

I have been as a St John member round the gardens with a group of disabled people in wheelchairs and can say that parts of the grounds are inaccessible for wheelchair users and this includes the maze and some of the gardens surrounding this maze. It is possible to push a wheelchair along the riverside and around some of the winding paths, but others are blocked by the fact that there are a series of steps to negotiate, which may also be difficult for pushchairs.

If the house is on your right hand side as you walk through the gardens, the river is on the same side. Do not miss the water spout (weather permitting) on the river (near the house) on the way towards the maze.

The main entrance to the gardens only is halfway up the hillside on the right hand side (above the house). If you go through the house, you will eventually leave by the gardens lower exit, near the greenhouse and herb gardens. It is possible to just visit the gardens of this wonderful tourist attraction, but that would not do the place justice.

Near the entrance to the garden is a courtyard surrounded by what was the stable block, but has been transformed into a toilet block, café, and shop. In the courtyard is a fountain, which is usually working and has been seen to be used as a paddling pool in very hot times.

The last time I visited Chatsworth, there was an MG rally so my boyfriend and his mate went round admiring the cars, whilst I went round admiring the gardens and the grounds. We had a picnic by the river and the fellas enjoyed exploring the maze, the area round the bandstand (near a small lake) and a folly. If we had had time, we were hoping to walk up to the Hunting Tower, but the weather deteriorated so we did not bother. However, we do intend that we will visit the house when the Christmas decorations are on. My boyfriend and I have yet to visit the house together. I have been several times and was presented with my Gold Duke of Edinbur
gh brooch by the late 11th Duke of Devonshire and also a Denby plate commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh group I got it with. Both these presentations took place in the Painted Gallery, which mustn?t be missed.

I have not yet visited the Scots Suite, as you have to pay extra for this and the last time I wanted to but it was closed for refurbishment. Another reason to go back!! I find that you can never say, ?I?ve done it all? because they do add/alter things.

At the moment, there is a Mitford exhibition to commemorate an anniversary of a member of the late 11th Duke of Devonshire?s wife?s, (Deborah Cavendish, nee Mitford, (now the Dowager Duchess)) family.

The late Duke will be missed, but hopefully the new Duke will build on his father?s achievements and we will continue to have many more days out at Chatsworth.

DIRECTIONS:
Off the A619 Baslow Road, go past the Golden Gate entrance (no access for pedestrians) into Baslow, past the Cavendish Arms, to a roundabout. Turn left at this roundabout (near the Baslow Parish church, which has a special clock with the word ?Victoria? instead of numbers, which was done to commemorate Queen Victoria?s Jubilee (Diamond, in 1897, I believe), follow the road round and it is signposted for Haddon Hall and Chatsworth. Just keep following the signs and turn left into the estate and drive past Edensor (where the Duke and other family members are buried). Be careful as the road is narrow and cars may be coming the other way over the narrow hump back bridge.

Chatsworth can be seen in the distance and the tower in the background to the left is the Hunting Tower.

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