David Lally · CC BY-SA 2.0 Why visit
Hardwick Hall is worth allowing time for because it combines state rooms, architecture and the political or social history attached to a major residence. The site is more useful than a quick photograph: its surviving features give clear evidence of how the place developed and how people used it. Key things to concentrate on are principal state or historic rooms, exterior architecture and landscaped setting, formal or botanical planting and contrasting garden and parkland areas. Its position in or near Chesterfield also makes it a practical anchor for exploring the surrounding region without reducing the visit to a simple landmark stop.
What you will see
- principal state or historic rooms.
- exterior architecture and landscaped setting.
- formal or botanical planting.
- contrasting garden and parkland areas.
History
Hardwick Hall was built in the 1590s for Bess of Hardwick. Its unusually large windows and formal plan make it a clear expression of elite Elizabethan architecture.
Photographs
David Lally · CC BY-SA 2.0 · full attribution on the image credits page.
Visitor tips
- 1
Allow enough time for the principal features rather than treating the stop only as a photograph.
- 2
Check the official visitor page shortly before travel for access, booking and any temporary restrictions.
About East Midlands
Country houses, Norman and Gothic Lincoln, Peak District landscapes and Nottingham’s castle quarter.
Open the United Kingdom guide
