Winter talks to give an insider guide to Derbyshire stately home
The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire are set to open the doors to their stately home Chatsworth House this winter, as part of a series of talks and tours.
Chatsworth House, which is sat in the Derbyshire Dales, is used to taking centre stage. The home has been featured in successful movies including Pride & Prejudice and The Duchess, and more recently in the Netflix original series The Crown.
Running until mid-March, the Winter Talks series will feature a fresh selection of expert speakers covering a diverse range of interests, from the challenges of managing the garden and waterways, to an insider’s view of working at Chatsworth as a housekeeper and a look at 250 years of life below stairs.
The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire will also share some of their favourite treasures and places around their home. Among the subjects covered will be some of the more unusual objects and places included in the Chatsworth Estate, as well as the history and stories behind them.
Check out what you can learn at Chatsworth House this Winter:
19 January: John Everitt, Head of Forestry, ‘Modern forestry on a historic estate’
The Chatsworth Estate’s 37,000 acres contain hundreds of thousands of trees. John Everitt talks about the role of a modern estate forester and the day-to-day management of 1600 hectares of mixed woodland.
26 January: Steve Porter, Head of Gardens and Landscape, ‘Managing a modern garden’
Capability Brown and Joseph Paxton as his predecessors, Steve Porter has a tough act to follow. He’s also got to deal with the impact of more than 500,000 visitors every year while managing and expanding the plant collection, working with external consultants to develop new areas, using contractors to maintain and improve the fabric and historic features, as well as guiding an expanding team of gardeners, trainees and volunteers.
27 January: The Collections Team, ‘250 years of stories from the servant’s hall’
The Collections Team at Chatsworth will give an talk about life below stairs for servants and staff who helped to keep the house and estate running during the years from 1700 to 1950. This talk will tell the stories of servants that have been found in the archives, from butlers, housekeepers, cooks, cleaners, footmen, gardeners, and many more.
2 February: Lord Burlington, ‘Shaping a greener Chatsworth’
Lord Burlington founded the Devonshire Group Environmental Committee (DGEC) in 2010 to drive forward his vision for ‘A Greener Chatsworth’. In 2013, Chatsworth received recognition for its sustainability work through a Green Tourism Gold Award and in 2016 was awarded the Peak District Environmental Quality Mark. Here, Lord Burlington talks about future projects and his vision for a greener Chatsworth.
10 February: Shenagh Firth, Head Guide, ‘Duchess Georgiana’
Gambler, collector, activist, style icon, socialite and duchess, Georgiana was notorious in her day as wife of the 5th Duke of Devonshire. The celebrated subject of a Gainsborough portrait, Duchess Georgiana has fascinated generations since her death and has been the subject of major books and films.
2 March: Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, ‘Our home at Chatsworth’
The Duke and Duchess will share some of their favourite treasures and places both inside the house and out, as well as in the garden and park. They will be talking about some things visitors may be familiar with, as well as some of the more unusual objects and places at Chatsworth and the history and stories behind them.
10 March: Christine Robinson, Head Housekeeper (retired), ‘The Housekeeper’s tips, tales and tipples’
Following on from her first book, “Chatsworth, The Housekeeper’s Tale”, Christine Robinson (former Head Housekeeper), will publish her next book, “Chatsworth, The Housekeeper’s Tips, Tales and Tipples” in March 2017. During her talk, Christine will invite the audience to join her on a journey through an ordinary house, but with particular reference to Chatsworth. In this illustrated talk, she will explore the history surrounding everyday objects, the care required for Chatsworth’s precious objects, and reveal more hidden stories from her forty years’ experience working at the house.
All the talks can be booked online and are taking place in the Hartington Room or the historic theatre. Throughout winter, the Stables shop and restaurant are open daily from 10.30am to 4.30pm.
