Chatsworth, Bakewell, Derbyshire, England
Record Id: 770
The following is from the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.
HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT
The estate was bought in 1549 from the Leche family by Sir William Cavendish. Following the accession of the 4th Earl (created 1st Duke in 1694) in 1684, the existing gardens were modified and extensive new gardens laid out by George London (died 1714) and Henry Wise (1653-1738). French gardeners M. Huet and M. Audias supervised wider alterations to the landscape, and waterworks were supervised by M. Grillet (active 1690), while Caius Gabriel Gibber and Jan Nost designed statuary for the garden. The works are illustrated in an engraving of 1699 by Knyff and Kip.
Additions and modifications to the scheme continued into the early decades of the 18th century. The pleasure grounds and gardens were transformed by the 6th Duke working with Jeffry Wyatville (1766-1840) in about 1820 and Joseph Paxton (1803-1865) from about 1826 to 1846.
A map of 1617 by William Senior shows the park occupied the area east of the Derwent and extended to the east of the escarpment on the east side of the site in an area which had been disparked by the late 18th century and is outside the boundary of the registered site.
Large-scale transformation of the landscape took place in the period from about 1755 to about 1770 with the imparkment of the area west of the river and the closure of a number of roads around and within the park. Extensive new areas of woodland were planted and substantial earth-moving works undertaken, which included widening the Derwent and grading its banks. The work was supervised by Mr Millican under the direction of Lancelot Brown (1716-1783).
A campaign of extension and improvements to the park began in the late 18th century and continued into the 19th century. The approach from Edensor was improved and part of the village demolished and rebuilt in a different position, with many of the buildings being designed by Paxton.
The estate remains in private ownership (1998).
People associated with this site
Architect: Thomas Archer (born 1668 died 1743)
Designer: Lancelot Brown (born 1716 died 06/02/1783)
Builder: Grillet
Surveyor: Mr Huett (Known to have been active 1690 to 1700)
Designer: William Kent (born 1685 died 1748)
Designer: Thomas Knowlton (born 1691 died 28/11/1781)
Nurseryman: George London (died 12/01/1714)
Designer: Edward Milner (born 20/01/1819 died 26/03/1884)
Architect: James Paine (born 1717 died 1789)
Designer: Sir Joseph Paxton (born 03/08/1803 died 08/06/1865)
Architect: John Robertson
Architect: William Talman (born 1650 died 22/11/1719)
Designer: Henry Wise (born 1653 died 15/12/1738)
Architect: Sir Jeffry Wyatville (born 1766 died 1840)
Features
tunnel
A recently excavated coal tunnel.
statue
Feature created: 1920 to 1929
The statue of Samson slaying the Philistine is a copy of the original by Giambologna from 1623. This version was originally bought to Chiswick House in the 1720s but was moved to Chatsworth during the 1920s.
conservatory
Feature created: 1836 to 1840
Creator: Sir Joseph Paxton (born 03/08/1803 died 08/06/1865)
The Great Conservatory, designed by Joseph Paxton, was the largest conservatory in the world. Also known as the Great Stove.
maze
Feature created: 1962
A yew maze.
ornamental fountain
Feature created: 1843
Creator: Sir Joseph Paxton (born 03/08/1803 died 08/06/1865)
The Emperor Fountain is the tallest gravity-fed fountain in the world. Water can reach up to 90.83 metres (298 feet).
sculpture
Feature created: 1991
Creator: Dame Elisabeth Jean Frink (born 14/11/1930 died 18/04/1993)
War Horse.
sculpture
Feature created: 1999
Creator: Angela Conner (Known to have been active 1999 to 1999)
A water-powered kinetic steel sculpture entitled 'Revelation'.
hedge
Feature created: 1953
A serpentine beech hedge.
© Copyright Parks and Gardens Data Services Ltd. 2007