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| Bakewell Biddulph Grange Bolsover Castle Castleton Chatsworth House Dovedale Eyam Village Haddon Hall Hardwick Hall Heights of Abraham Peak tour in Brief Quarry Bank Mill The Tram Museum |
The thumbnails below are linked to larger pictures
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Hardwick Hall near Chesterfield in Derbyshire is a beautiful Elizabethan house built in the 1590’s. It was originally the home of Elizabeth, Countess of Shrewsbury, a powerful and remarkable woman of the age. Hardwick Hall has changed little in the intervening years, but remains a spectacular period property well worthy of a visit. Hardwick Hall's six towers occupy an eye catching position alongside the M1 close to Junction 29, Chesterfield. The house is set in 300 acres of grounds, which offer a delightful circular walk around the surrounding countryside.
The interiors of Hardwick Hall are amongst the most exciting in England, in particular, the Great Chamber and the Long Gallery. It contains a magnificent collection of tapestry and period needlework. Most of the large Tudor houses had Long Galleries. They were often used to exercise in whenever the weather was too bad to venture outside or onto the roof. They would often be hung with portraits of the Tudor monarchs and with pictures of family members and friends. The Long Gallery at Hardwick was most impressive, with several portraits of Elizabeth hanging on their walls. Also, as most Tudor rooms were generally quite gloomy because of the lack of light, the large windows that opened on to the long gallery at Hardwick must have bathed the space in sunlight, and made a striking and dazzling impression on visitors.
Outside, Hardwick Hall gardens and Stableyard set off the Hall perfectly. Lawns, orchards and the herb garden offer a pleasant setting for a relaxing stroll. For the children there are trails and activities to keep active minds engaged for hours
| *Link to official site for viewing Visitor Information* |
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