{"id":14741,"date":"2025-02-04T10:24:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-04T10:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cityadventurers.co.uk\/blog\/?p=14741"},"modified":"2025-02-09T13:08:36","modified_gmt":"2025-02-09T13:08:36","slug":"hardwick-hall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cityadventurers.co.uk\/blog\/?p=14741","title":{"rendered":"Hardwick Hall"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The City Adventurers took a trip to Hardwick Hall. Turns out there are two Hardwick Halls \u2013 one managed the National Trust (stately home) and one managed by English Heritage (a ruin). Both Hardwick Hall and the Old Hall are Grade I listed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting there<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you head to Hardwick Hall via the M1 your satnav should deliver you to the entrance to the estate. We, however took the scenic route via Arnold, Papplewick and Newstead Abbey and were delivered to the exit, by the Hardwick Inn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lots of activity there, as the place attracts dog walkers. Similarly, on our drive up the hill towards the house, there was another stop off with lots of walkers and dog walkers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crossing the motorway twice we found the turning for Stainsby Mill and the National Trust entrance to Hardwick Hall estate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Visiting
Visiting Hardwick \u2013 photo by Juliamaud<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first owner \u2013 Bess of Hardwick, Countess of Shrewsbury.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bess of Hardwick was the richest woman in England after Queen Elizabeth I. She was born in her father\u2019s manor house, now old Hall at Hardwick, which is now a ruin beside the \u2018new\u2019 hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bess was married four times and each of her marriages brought her greater wealth. Hardwick was only one of Bess\u2019s many houses and stands as a testament to her wealth and power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hardwick Hall was designed by Robert Smythson in the late 16th century and is an architecturally significant country house from the Elizabethan era. Built between 1590 and 1597, Hardwick Hall is one of the earliest examples of the English Elizabethan prodigy house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hardwick Old Hall<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hardwick Old Hall, an Elizabethan manor house stands as a ruin, next to Hardwick Hall. It was used as guest and service accommodation after the new hall was built. The City Adventurers were able to see the Old Hardwick Hall from a distance as they left the estate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is administered by English Heritage, who have just spent seven months on a conservation project at Hardwick Old Hall to protect the Hall\u2019s 400-year-old plaster friezes. Once the finest of their age, and a display of Bess of Hardwick\u2019s status and wealth, the Old Hall\u2019s decorative plaster panels have long been exposed to the elements for two centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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