Renaissance & Paladian Country in Northwest England

Near Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1PP. Tel: 01246-582 204.

Chatsworth House
Aerial Photo Courtesy of www.webbaviation.co.uk © 2008

Seat of the Dukes of Devonshire, Chatsworth is one of Derbyshire's most celebrated and largest country residences - about 1½ hours drive from Manchester.
Built by Talman for the 1st Duke between 1687 and 1707 in the Paladian Renaissance style which was popular in Britain at that time, it houses a world famous collection of drawings, paintings, sculptures, books and furniture, as well as having one of the most elaborate water gardens set within a 100 acres of parkland.
Chatsworth has been a tourist attraction ever since its completion, with an inn and a club (now the estate office) being built in neighbouring Edensor for the convenience of travellers. Various additions to the original building have made Chatsworth into a sprawling mansion.
The Chapel and the Great Dining Room were added in the 1690s, the Theatre at the north end in the 1790s, the Drawing & Sketching Galleries in the 1830s, the Library fitted out in 1815, the Great Dining Room in 1832 - all bear witness to Chatsworth's use as a living, growing house which is far more than a museum or showcase.
There are priceless treasures within, including splendid wall and ceiling paintings by Guido Reni, Verrio and Laguerre, sculptures by Canova, Lucian Freud, Giambologna and from classical Roman antiquity, woodcarvings by Grinling Gibbons, canvasses by Holbein, Lawrence, Van Dyke, Hals, Landseer and Gainsborough, as well as Worcester, Wedgwood and Chinese porcelains and silver plate.
The gardens boast the remains of a Paxton conservatory, and a high lake fountain powered only by the natural fall of water down the garden Cascade. Innumerable rare and exotic plants and flowers are grown, and an arboretum displays many strange and ancient trees in a natural forest setting. The Stables have now been converted to a restaurant and shop.

LOCATION
About a ½ mile east of Edensor village on the A623, 4 miles east of Bakewell. About 1½ hours drive from Manchester (longer at peak times) via the A6 road to Stockport, Buxton and Bakewell, well signposted as you approach Bakewell. 16 miles from Junction 29 on the M1 Motorway, signposted "Chesterfield".

OPENING
House & Gardens: Open daily from the end of March to the end of October.
Farmyard & Adventure Playground: same opening but shorter times - please check before setting off.

ADMISSION
There is an admission charge for entrance to the house and gardens. with a reduction for gardens only visits. You are advised to phone to check current prices. Concessions for children, students and Senior Citizens.

FACILITIES
Several toilets in and around the house and gardens. Baby Room. Parking on site (paying). Licensed self-service restaurant serving full meals, snacks and refreshments in the Stable Block. Coach driver's Rest Room.
Refreshments kiosks in the gardens and outside in the parking areas.
Regrettably the House is virtually impossible for wheelchair access, but the gardens are fully accessible - wheelchairs also provided. Shop in Stable Block and in the House, selling books, postcards, Sweets, chocolates biscuits, herbs, pot pourri, gifts and fancy goods of all kinds. Farmyard, children's Adventure Playground, Farm shop nearby. Frequent events held - angling, shooting, crafts fairs.

Chatsworth House from the approach road bridge

South Facade, Lake and Fountain

The Stables Block

Rivington is a scenic excursion into county of Lancashire, with its picturesque landscapes, moors and big reservoirs. Well signposted from Bolton centre, follow signs for Horwich and then Rivington.
The landscape is dominated by Rivington Pike standing high on Rivington Moor, built in 1733 by the owner of Rivington Hall. A path from the Hall leads through terraced gardens to the top of the moor, and is well worth taking for the more energetic visitor.
Rivington Village is at the north end of Lever Park, located at the junction of the Anglezarke Lower and the Yarrow Upper Rivington reservoirs, and is a charming place with its 16th century parish church.
The Great House Barn in nearby Lever Park, which may have dated from the Middle Ages is a trip into the past, and is a well restored and preserved monument, now a restaurant, and serves as a Tourist Information Centre.
The restaurant can be pre-booked by telephone on: 01204-697 738. Parties and special occasions catered for, and special Christmas Buffet, Dinner and Dances on offer.

RIVINGTON HALL
Rivington, Bolton BL6 7SB. Tel: 01204-697738.
Nearby is Rivington Hall, built by William Hesketh Lever, later Lord Leverhulme, which is not open to the public, but the gardens are open and popular with local walkers. The whole area is a favourite recreation ground for the people of Bolton and the surrounding districts, and is usually rather crowded at holiday times, though the hugeness of the landscape seems to be able to handle this without undue damage.
A Gardens Trail Guide is available from the Great House Barn.
Telephone: 01204-691549.

RIVINGTON VILLAGE
Rivington is a very old village, dating from an early settlement around 620-650 AD - the foundation of the Parish Church is dated from Saxon times. The name Rivington means "the town" (or "tun") by the rough hill (this probably refers to the nearby desolate and windswept Winter Hill, now the home for various radio masts and transmitting antennae. The transmitters themselves have now become local landmarks.
The Parish Church, with its Saxon font, is mentioned in a land deed of 1280 and again in 1476, by which time it was in lands owned by the Pilkington family. The nearby present vicarage was not built until 1884 on the site of a an older building and near to the village stocks which are still in their original position just over the Vicarage wall.
Rivington Lakes were constructed from 1847-57, and were originally known as the Lancashire Corporation Waterworks. Rivington Grammar School was founded in 1566 by Bishop Pilkington - since 1875 it has been known as Rivington & Blackrod Grammar School.
There is also a Nonconformist Unitarian Chapel in the village, one of the earliest to be built in Lancashire.

GREAT HOUSE BARN
Information Centre, Rivington Lane, Horwich, Bolton
Telephone: 01204-691549

LOCATION
From Junction Exit 6 on the M61 Motorway follow signs for Horwich (A673). Straight ahead at roundabout, turn almost immediately right into Lever Park Avenue. After approximately 1 mile you will arrive at Rivington Great House Barn.

OPENING
Daily from Easter to October. Weekends only in winter. Parking is available adjacent to the Great Barn.

Sources: See Bibliography - Books about Manchester