Hardwick Hall – An Elizabethan Gem

If you enjoyed a visit to Chatsworth House and are keen for more, we highly recommend a visit to Hardwick Hall, which is a 40-minute drive over the moors because it provides a fascinating day out. Built in the late 1590s by the formidable Bess of Hardwick, it’s a wonderful example of Tudor architecture, untouched by the Georgians and Victorians who influenced so many other stately homes.

Bess was a woman to be reckoned with, who was far ahead of her time and fought fiercely through the courts for the rights to her land and property after the death of each of her 4 husbands, at a time when widows had very few rights. An astute business woman, she managed her estates with great skill and grew in prosperity and stature, becoming a Lady of the Privy Chamber to Queen Elizabeth I and Countess of Shrewsbury after her 4th marriage. Together with her husband the Earl of Shrewsbury, they were the custodians of Mary Queen of Scots for 16 years of her captivity. You can learn more about her during your visit.

Bess grew up at Hardwick Hall (now Hardwick Old Hall) and later purchased it from her brother James after it fell into disrepair. During the renovations, she commissioned a new Hardwick Hall, which stands adjacent to the Old Hall and which you can visit today. It houses the 2nd largest collection of tapestries in England and is a wonderful example of Tudor architecture and furniture, with lots of activities for children as you work through the different rooms. The gardens are exquisite, including a fruit orchard and an ornamental orchard, a well-stocked herb garden and a more formal garden. The extensive parkland stretching beyond allows an opportunity for you to stretch your legs and stroll around the 3 ponds, follow the sculpture walk or ramble along the oak walk.

The restaurant offers light lunches and selection of delicious cakes and it features a dog-friendly section. There’s also a large number of picnic tables, including an under-cover section for a rainy day.