Hardwick Hall Facts: History, Design And Other Details

A stroll around will lead you to find several architecturally remarkable houses in England.

Hardwick Hall stands out from the rest because of its proximity to the city center. Derbyshire, where Elizabeth Shrewsbury lived, is the prime location that houses this palatial manor.

Now, you may be wondering when the first Hardwick Hall was built. It was first built in 1590, which was designed by the famous architect Robert Smythson.

Bess of Hardwick is another name for it. As per the National Trust, this house's current owner, most of the furniture and other contents belong to the house that dates back to before 1601.

It's a beautifully designed home, and when you go there for the first time, it becomes hard to know which way to look. When you reach arrive you'll see the National Trust signs that point toward the sizeable window of the building to your left.

Hardwick's old hall is the ruinous 16th-century manor at Bess of Hardwick's monument. Everyone should visit this place once to explore its beauty. It was built late in the 16th century with accrued massive wealth which is why it offers so much grandeur.

There is no doubt that Hardwick was designed to leave a long-lasting impression. Here, in this article, you will learn more about the history and architectural style of Hardwick Hall.

Hardwick Hall's Location

You should visit Hardwick's old hall, which is one of the most exciting places.

A large hill protrudes from the Derbyshire countryside, which the house sits atop.

Any person can easily see Hardwick's old hall from a mile away, and it's a sight that people come to see from all around the world.

If you're looking for the exact location, the address is Doe Lea, Chesterfield S44 5QJ, U.K.

They built it on rules of symmetry, and they incorporate it with huge glass windows and six towers in England.

The History Of Hardwick Hall

Old Hardwick Hall was among the best-designed houses from the Tudor period. It was first built between 1587 and 1596, and was designed by Bess of Hardwick.

Bess of Hardwick was a rich and well-connected woman during the Elizabethan era. Hardwick's old hall is a modern mansion as they designed it on the latest Italian innovations of house design. Hardwick Hall is a magnificent shell built on the reflection of Bess's aspiration and status.

Bess of Hardwick was a well-known personality at the time. The activities she pursued during her four marriages made her well known.

She was born in 1527 and was married at the age of 15, but her husband Robert Barlow died at a young age, the following year after their marriage.

After that, in 1547, she met Sir William Cavendish, a 40-year old widower and a father of three, and with him, she bought a Chatsworth house or built a new house there.

In 1557, Sir William Cavendish died suddenly and she found herself widowed once more.

She then married her third husband, Sir William St. Loe. In 1565, St. Loe died and left everything to Bess. After that, she married George Talbot, the richest man in the country, and became Elizabeth Talbot.

After the death of her fourth husband, Beth fled to her family home at Hardwick in 1584. She wanted something more lavish than her father's old medieval manor house. That is when, in 1587, she started building Hardwick's old hall.

This old hall consists of many things, including staterooms, a great hill chamber, and many other unique places. When in 1590, the old hall was completed, Bess of Hardwick started building the new hall with the help of professionals and expected that the old hall would not be abandoned.

In 1608, after Bess of Hardwick died, she left her son William Cavendish in charge of Hardwick and the family seat. The Cavendish family traces its origins to William Cavendish. Dukes preferred the Chatsworth House or Hardwick and partially dismantled the old hall in the 1750s.

In 1959, Hardwick's old hall was transferred to the National Trust and stabilized. They cleaned the smoke from the stonework, built Hill Great Chamber, stabilized internal walls, updated state rooms, the great hall and did many other things that made it look extraordinary.

The Architectural Style And Details About Hardwick Hall

By the time her estranged husband, George Talbot, died in 1950, the foundation for new Hardwick Hall had already been dug. She spared no expense to build her masterpiece.

She hired the best architect of that time, Robert Smythson, who helped her design this new hall with her team, who are all experts in building so that they could build a house fir for Queen Elizabeth.

The old hall was built considering rules of symmetry, and this new hall was nothing like anything in England. The building has six tall towers, and all the owners are topped by giant stone letters that show the owner's initials, which is E.S.

It features huge windows that are positioned upwards and give a dramatic effect. You may want to see several things at Hall Hardwick.

The first thing you will fall in love with in this place is the gardens as they really do take center stage. It's a pleasant outdoor space that is not as busy as the National Trust Garden.

People often visit the house via South Court, which consists of an empty paddock. It also has statues from the 18th century from Chatsworth House. It has the most extensive herb garden that you can find, divided into four sections, one of which features lovely orchards.

From the west, you can see the Great Hall, which may not be like the one that you expect, but back in the day, it served a functional purpose. It was the main area where guests were greeted. It is a place that lies from front to back and cuts the house effectively into two parts.

This building has a spectacular stone staircase to give visitors the best experience. These stone staircases are absolutely enormous.

When you climb them, it gives you a weird feeling. It's a great house with an excellent hill chamber, and the hall is built upside down with the state rooms situated on the second floor, and the staff rooms on the floor below.

Like the state rooms, the walls of all other rooms are beautifully decorated with tapestries that make the rooms look even more grand.

There is a long gallery at Hall Hardwick and it is the most extended Elizabeth Long Gallery of that time, with marvelous indoor spaces. It covers the length of the second floor and there are several other fantastic rooms that you can explore.

Along with Hill Great Chamber and Long Gallery, there is a third floor with a Blue Room, Green Velvet Room, and a beautiful room of Mary, Queen of Scots.

Purpose Of Hardwick Hall

Bess of Hardwick built the old hall as she wanted to have something grander than her father's medieval house. As a result, the old hall is truly remarkable, making it unforgettable for anyone who visits. People love visiting this hall where they can see a collection of unique paintings and furniture on these walls.

You may see artifacts that date back to the 16th-century. This English house has many glass windows, in fact, you could say that there is more glass than walls in the house.

There are several notable features that you can see in Hardwick Hall that may not be seen in any other house. Old hall is furnished sully, just like Beth wanted to keep it. The most notable features are the needlework, and most of that work was created by Beth herself.

People often wonder what Hardwick Hall is currently used for. This house was and is still used in various film and television shows. The exterior of Hardwick Hall was shown in two of the Harry Potter moviesl 'Deathly Hollows', Parts One and Two. It depicted Malfoy Manor, but only from outside.

People can visit, but because of COVID-19, there are some restrictions in place for visitors.

FAQs

Q. When was the first Hardwick Hall built?

A. It was first built in 1590 and was designed by a famous architect, Robert Smythson.

Q. What was Hardwick Hall used for?

A. It is an innovative house that is used for several different purposes. In fact, it was even used to shoot a Harry Potter movie.

Q. What has been filmed at Hardwick Hall?

A. It is the most popular location that has appeared in popular shows and movies, such as the exterior scenes of Malfoy Manor in the Harry Potter film series.

Q. How many windows are there in Hardwick Hall?

A. Eight huge windows light this majestic home where important guests once had their meals.

Q. Do you have to pay to walk around Hardwick Hall?

A. There are different entry fees for adults and children that you will have to pay for in order to have a stroll around this hall.