From now on I'm going to add entries whenever I go out and do something. This week I'm staying with my Father, Charles and today we went to Chatsworth.
Chatsworth is the estate of the Duke of Devonshire and is considered to be one of the most beautiful houses in UK (if not Europe). Famous for its Louis XIV style gardens and Baroque style house. Chatsworth the house is almost as famous as its owners (Georgiana being one of them and the other being a Mitford sister). Unusually it is one of the few places that lets you take photographs inside (it is very dark in some rooms though so not suitable for camera phones). The Cavendishes have always been good at moving with the times and they show this in displaying modern art along side their Gainsboroughs and Van Dycks. Most people will recognise Chatsworth from the recent film "Pride and Prejudice" starring Kiera Knightley (only the Painted Hall and the Sculpture Gallery and exterior but still conveys the scope of the place - no bust of Matthew McFadden either). Beautiful and unique I would compare this to Waddesdon Manor for vision and execution. They also had a special exhibition on the 6th Duke who did alot to the house and was the only Cavendish to actually recieve Royalty! Visit his facebook page to learn more.
I also picked up a fantastic book in the gift shop that is amazing if you are an Austinite! Jane Austen: Tv & film location guide covers the locations of all the adaptations of Jane Austen (even the Laurence Olivier/ Greer Garson one!).
Facilities: Lots of toilets and they had beautifully decorated each one in a a slightly Edwardian way which was fantastic and so detailed ( Beautiful tile friezes of a hunt, each tile unique, in the Stable toilets). Loved it! Lots of restaurants too.
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