Built / Designed For: Bess of Hardwick, Countess of Shrewsbury

House & Family History: Hardwick is one of Britain's greatest and most complete Elizabethan houses. It was built in the late 16th century by the indomitable Bess of Hardwick (she had four husbands, each richer than the one before) and is remarkable for being almost unchanged since her time. Bess came from a slightly impoverished Derbyshire gentry family and, as a young woman, worked as a gentlewoman for Sir John and Lady Zouche of Codnor Castle, Derbyshire. Bess's son, William, was made Baron Cavendish of Hardwick in 1605; in 1618 he purchased from the crown the title of earl of Devonshire for £10,000. In August of 1619, the Prince of Wales, later Charles I, had dinner at Hardwick during a visit to Welbeck in Nottinghamshire. The 2nd Earl of Devonshire famously hired Thomas Hobbes, philosopher and author of "Behemoth" and "Leviathan," to tutor his son, later the 3rd Earl; legend has it that Hobbes now haunts the path under the walls of the Old Hall. Some interiors from Chatsworth and a variety of furnishings from Londesborough Hall (a former Cavendish house in Yorkshire, now demolished) were moved to Hardwick by the 6th Duke of Devonshire (the 4th Earl was created 1st Duke of Devonshire in 1694) in the early 19th century. The National Trust acquired Hardwick in 1956, when the 11th Duke of Devonshire handed it over to the government in lieu of tax arising from the death of his father, the 10th Duke. The famous ditty, "Hardwick Hall, more glass than wall," may go back centuries, and refers to a time when glass was exceptionally expensive and rare. The word "Hardwick" may be loosely translated as "sheep farm."

Collections: Hardwick contains outstanding collections of 16th century embroidery, tapestries, furniture, and portraits.

Garden & Outbuildings: Walled courtyards enclose fine gardens, orchards, and an herb garden. The current garden design dates from the 17th century. The brew house, the sash house, and the dairy were all added between 1589 and 1591. The Hardwick Estate today houses the Stone Centre in a renovated pump house on the estate; here eight stonemasons work on the repair and replacement of the stonework on the great house and the garden walls. In 1997 Queen Elizabeth II planted a tree in the grounds to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the house.

John Bernard (J.B.) Burke, published under the title of A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. II, p. 65, 1853.

Country Life: II, 434, 464, 1897. XIII, 710, 1903. LVII, 229 [Furniture], 320 [Furniture], 422 [Wall Hangings], 1925. LXI, 328 [Needlework], 499 [Tapestry], 661 [Furniture], 1927. LXIV, 806 plan, 870, 904, 934, 1928. CXXII, 346, 1957. CLIV, 1786 [Embroideries], 1973.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Grade I

Past Seat / Home of: Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury, 16th century; William Cavendish, 2nd Earl of Devonshire, 17th century; Spencer Compton Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire, 19th century; Cavendish family here 1597 until 1956.

Current Ownership Type: The National Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Visitor Attraction

House Open to Public: Yes

Phone: 01246-850-430

Fax: 01246-854-200

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Historic Houses Member: No