Chatsworth reopens after £32m 10-year revamp
WITH its gold leaf and pale yellow stonework glinting in the spring sunshine, Chatsworth has reopened following the biggest restoration and conservation of the house, garden and park since the 1820s.
The 10-year-long programme, costing more than £32m, sees the Derbyshire mansion restored to its full glory, inside and out.
The Chatsworth Renewed exhibition, running until October, highlights the work of those involved in the restoration process. From rebuilding the Belvedere turrets to replacing vast tracts of lead on the roof; carving the tiniest details in stone using dentistry tools to replacing huge blocks in the walls; careful restoration of priceless artworks to the renovation of famous water features in the garden; over the last decade Chatsworth has been fully restored and made ready for the next century.
The Duke of Devonshire said: “The level of forensic research, expertise and craftsmanship applied by so many people has been absolutely inspiring. It has always been a thrilling moment to see the house come into view as you drive across the park and now that view has been made even more magical. With the years of blackened grime now removed from the stone, it looks truly magnificent.”
In 1981, the charitable Chatsworth House Trust was set up by the 11th Duke to ensure the longterm survival of the house and collection. Since 1949 the entrance money paid by more than 25 million visitors has made a vital contribution to the maintenance of the house and garden and it is this income, rather than any public funding, that has ena- bled the current restoration works to be completed.
Visitors will also be able to see the artwork of Linder Sterling, artist-in-residence at Chatsworth and a Paul Hamlyn Foundation award-winning artist.
During her residency in 20172018, Linder immersed herself in the life of the estate. Her Grace Land features her response through four installations and explores the female voice at Chatsworth in the centenary year of the Act of Representation.
For more information visit www.chatsworth.org