Chatsworth House and Estate

Chatsworth's history dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, the name being a corruption of 'Chetelsourde', meaning "Chetel's manor". Chetel was deposed after the Norman Conquest and Chatsworth ceased to be a large estate until the 15th century, when it was acquired by the Leche family.

In 1549 they sold all their property in the area to Sir William Cavendish, the second husband of Bess of Hardwick, lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth I. Construction of their new house was begun in 1553, but was not completed until several years after his death in 1557. Bess lived there with her fourth husband, George Talbot, the Earl of Shrewsbury, who in 1568 was entrusted with the custody of Mary Queen of Scots, whose apartment is known today as the Queen of Scots room.

Bess died in 1608, and her enormous wealth (all four of her husbands were rich) passed to her second son William Cavendish, who was created 1st Earl of Devonshire in 1618. The 4th Earl became the 1st Duke of Devonshire in 1694. In 1811 the 6th Duke inherited the title, 8 major houses and 200,000 acres of land.

However, his extravagances and the failure of the 7th Duke's business ventures plunged the estate into debt. When over £500,000 in death duties became due, following the death of the 8th Duke in 1908, many rare books and documents were sold. In the 1920s and 1930s land and houses were sold, there being insufficient funds for the upkeep of the estates.

In 1944 William Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington, the elder son of the 10th Duke, married Kathleen Kennedy, sister of John F. Kennedy. A few months later he was killed in action in Belgium, and Kathleen died in a plane crash in 1948. Edward, the 10th Duke, had transferred his assets to his son during his lifetime in order to avoid death duties, but William died a few weeks too early for the lifetime exemption to apply, and £7 million tax became due.

Edward (who died in 1950) and his son Andrew, the 11th Duke, decided to retain their family's home if they possibly could, but it took 17 years to pay the tax. In 1946 the Trustees of the Chatsworth Settlement was established to manage the Chatsworth Estate. Hardwick Hall was transferred to the National Trust in lieu of tax, and 48,000 acres of land and major works of art were sold.

In 1981 the family trustees created a separate charitable trust called the Chatsworth House Trust to preserve the house and its setting. This trust was granted a 99-year lease on the house, its essential contents, the garden, park and some woods, a total of 1,822 acres, at an annual rent of £1. The family sold some works of art, mainly old master drawings which could not be put on regular display, to raise a multi-million pound endowment fund. The family pays a market rent for the use of its private apartments in the house.

Andrew's wife, Deborah Mitford (now the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire, following Andrew's death in 2004), has continued to be very active in promoting the estate, in order to meet the cost of running the house and grounds, which is currently around £4 million a year. She has written several books about Chatsworth, and has added visitor attractions such as the kinetic sculpture Revelation.

Chatsworth is one of Britain's best loved historic houses and estates. It offers something for everyone to enjoy, from famous works of art, young animals and the spectacular fountains in the garden to the finest shopping, food and drink and many miles of free walks. It is the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and is set in the magnificent landscape of Derbyshire's Peak District National Park.

The house, garden, farmyard, gift shops and restaurant will re-open on Wednesday 12 March 2008. The 1000 acre park and the farmshop and its restaurant are open all year round. Chatsworth has a long tradition of welcoming local people and holiday makers from around the world.

The 'Palace of the Peak' is a family home which was built to be shared with visitors. You are invited to walk at your own pace through the house, absorbing the atmosphere of its beautiful rooms and the story that they tell of the family's history over the last 450 years.

The house contains one of Europe's finest private art collections, representing 4000 years of European culture and craftsmanship, from ancient Greece to modern work by British artists. Throughout the house, there are magnificent displays of paintings, furniture, silver, tapestries and porcelain and a gallery of neo-classical sculptures. The collection is always growing and recent additions include ceramics by Edmund de Waal, modern sculpture and painting by Lucian Freud.

The house contains one of Europe's finest private art collections, representing 4000 years of European culture and craftsmanship, from ancient Greece to modern work by British artists. Between March and October these treasures are seen in magnificent rooms on all three floors of the house, from the grandeur of the 1st Duke's Painted Hall and State Apartments with their rich decoration and painted ceilings, to the 19th century Library, Great Dining Room and Sculpture Gallery. Wardens in the rooms can answer your questions, and there are beautiful guidebooks and an audio guide available.

The 105 acre garden is a magical landscape, beautiful in all seasons, and it can be visited separately from the house. It has evolved over more than 450 years, and continues to change today.

There are five miles of walks with rare trees, shrubs, formal hedges, temples, sculptures old and new, streams and ponds and the new, award-winning garden guidebook suggests trails and routes all around the garden while also explaining its history. You are welcome to picnic in the garden, there are no signs saying 'keep off the grass', and dogs on leads are also very welcome.

Younger visitors and families particularly enjoy the farmyard with its wide variety of animals and their young, and the spectacular woodland adventure playground. From milking demonstrations and the daily animal handling sessions, to fabulous water play and spiral slides, there is something for everyone.

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