A few weeks ago we went up to Derbyshire and stayed on a site which is part of the Chatsworth estate. Campers even had their own key to a door that lead into the park. Some parts of the house is covered in scaffold, which is part of a £37 million renovation.!!!
The river Derwent flows through the estate.
Its the most opulent stately home that we have visited even the window frames are gilded.
The Duke of Devonshire and
family
The interior is used for exhibitions, this one is Damien Hirsts St Bartholomew.
No flash is allowed inside the house, so not great pictures.
On the day we visited, the house was the stopping place for the 1000 mile rally of the vintage cars, and many of them were Bentleys. I couldn't even guess as to the value of all these cars.
The grounds and gardens are well worth the walk, even in the rain. There was even an underground railway to take the coal into the house!
These next pictures are of the "Rockery" How much labour was required to construct this ??
Wow what a place, the ceiling in that one room is an amazing work of art, can't imagine living in a place like that....love the old Bentleys they really knew how to make cool cars back in the day.
ReplyDeleteIt is an amazing place, but to me its more of a museum rather than a home, but then I suppose when you are born into that lifestyle it does become a home. Yes those cars are tremendous and nice to see them being used. There was a mobile mechanic in a fully equipped van travelling with them.
DeleteBlimey, I wouldn't like to be paying the bills to run that place never mind the restoration!
ReplyDeleteLove those Bentleys too, some beasts they are. What a great place to stay though!
For me its interesting to see how they lived. When the house was fired by coal they used 300 tons pa, and the "coal shed" was hidden in the trees and the coal was brought into the house by an underground railway. Its incredible what lengths they went to.
ReplyDeleteIt would be an experience to drive one of those beasts.
Nice little pile...
ReplyDeleteWere the Devonshires the ones who were a wee bit loopy?
Loved the cars and the grounds are superb.
Its all the inbreeding Mr A. The Duchess was from the Mitford family, so that says a lot. The grounds are really worth it, the house is not like a N T property where you get to see all aspects of the "upstairs / downstairs" life, its more of a museum come show gallery. But I'm pleased I've been there.
DeleteAh the Mitfords! That explains a lot.
DeleteI visited the house a few years ago and would agree it's more of a museum than a home.... For me home has always meant small and cosy and that just doesn't apply to Chatsworth :-)
ReplyDeleteYou're right Trevor about it not being small, but it was an experience to visit.
ReplyDelete