Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire

Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury was known as Bess Hardwick and was a wealthy woman well known in Elizabethan England.  Although she was born into a modest gentry family, she married four times and amassed great wealth with each marriage. She fought for her deceased husbands' estates and succeeded in an age when women didn't have many rights if any.  She increased her wealth and owned lands, and businesses which included mines and glass making. 

She was grandmother to Arbella Stuart, whom many believed should have been Queen of England. The Tudors of course could not have this situation.

Bess kept her granddaughter Arbella at Hardwick for many years to protect her but Arbella was taken to the Tower of England where she died,  probably of being starved to death

The Old Hall stands just a few yards away from the New Hall but is in a dreadful state of repair compared to the New Hall. They were built only a few years apart. The Old Hall is being made safe for visitors just now. 

The ES initials at the top of the building stand for Elizabeth Shrewsbury as Bess was Countess of Shrewsbury. In English, I would pronounce Shrewsbury as SHROWsbury but some say SHROOsbury. 

Bess began building Hardwick Old Hall in 1587 and it was finished in 1590.  Bess had become the richest woman in England after Queen Elizabeth. She immediately started building the New Hall to complement the old hall, like two wings of one building. It was all a show of power. 

Hardwick Hall was built to impress... symmetrical, sumptuous, crowns over the ES on the roof. It can be seen for miles and was a symbol of Bess Hardwick's wealth. The walls are covered with tapestries over 400 years old. 

The one below is along the staircase. There is a banqueting hall on the roof and this is being restored for roof top tours which should start late Autumn 2018. I am going! 

I included this staircase above because I loved it. This is exactly how it looks and is lined with tapestries. 

Whenever I visit these places, I love to see the kitchens. This to me was where " it all happened ".  Hardwick kitchens do not disappoint. Take a look at one of the them, the main kitchen. 

I am just focusing on the orchard here. The gardens are lovely of course but I was struck by the prevalence of these trees in Hardwick's orchard. Chinese red crab apples. 

Hmm I wonder what they are like!

What a visit!

I am a great campaigner to show that England is far more than just London. You would never get views like this around London and the South. Hardwick is just beautiful and full of exciting and tumultuous History. 

Visit it if you are in Derbyshire.