Hardwick Hall
Hardwick Hall in Doe Lea, Derbyshire is one of the most significant Elizabethan country houses in England. In common with its architect Robert Smythson's other works at both Longleat House and Wollaton Hall, Hardwick Hall is one of the earliest examples of the English interpretation of the Renaissance style of architecture, which came into fashion when it was no longer thought necessary to fortify one's home.
Hardwick Hall is situated on a hill top between Chesterfield and Mansfield, overlooking the Derbyshire countryside. The house was designed for Bess of Hardwick, Countess of Shrewsbury and ancestress of the Dukes of Devonshire, by Robert Smythson in the late 16th century and remained in that family until it was handed over to HM Treasury in lieu of Estate Duty in 1956. The Treasury transferred the house to the National Trust in 1959. As it was a secondary residence of the Dukes of Devonshire, whose main country house was nearby Chatsworth, it was little altered over the centuries and indeed, from the early 19th century, its antique atmosphere was consciously preserved.
Hardwick's skyline features six rooftop pavilions with Bess of Hardwick's initials "ES" (Elizabeth Shrewsbury) carved into the balustrade.
Hardwick is a conspicuous statement of the wealth and power of Bess of Hardwick, who was the richest woman in England after Queen Elizabeth I herself. It was one of the first English houses where the great hall was built on an axis through the center of the house rather than at right angles to the entrance. Each of the three main stories is higher than the one below, and a grand, winding, stone staircase leads up to a suite of state rooms on the second floor, which includes one of the largest long galleries in any English house and a little-altered, tapestry-hung great chamber with a spectacular plaster frieze of hunting scenes. The windows are exceptionally large and numerous for the 16th century and were a powerful statement of wealth at a time when glass was a luxury: "Hardwick Hall, more glass than wall" the saying went. There is a large amount of fine tapestry and furniture from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. A remarkable feature of the house is that much of the present furniture and other contents are listed in an inventory dating from 1601.
Hardwick Hall contains a large collection of embroideries, mostly dating from the late 16th century, many of which are listed in the 1601 inventory. Some of the needlework on display in the house incorporates Bess's monogram "ES", and may have been worked on by Bess herself.
Hardwick Old Hall
Hardwick is open to the public. It has a fine garden, including herbaceous borders, a vegetable and herb garden an orchard. The extensive grounds also contain Hardwick Old Hall, a slightly earlier house which was used as guest and service accommodation after the new hall was built. The Old Hall is now a ruin. It is administered by English Heritage on behalf of the National Trust and is also open to the public.
Hardwick Old Hall - Urban Myths and Legends
Is in ruins now but still favoured by some spirits. One of these ghosts is thought to be that of the famous philosopher Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury who lived and taught there, until he died at the age of 91.
It’s said that he walks along the drive and around the perimeter of the old Hall, especially the path leading down to the present shop.
Both staff and visitors find one room in particular quite uncomfortable. This is in the West Lodge (which was once used as a schoolroom) of Hardwick Old Hall and dogs seem to sense this as well. They have been known to go to the far corner of this room and bark at something only they can see or sense.
Hardwick New Hall - Urban Myths and Legends
Completed in 1597 and to this day still well preserved seems to be the haunt of many spirits. Perhaps the two most common though are the Monk and the Cavalier.
A young couple, driving through the Hall grounds in 1976, were nearly run off the road by another car coming in the opposite direction. Unknown to them the occupants of the other car were speeding away from what they were yet to see.
As the couple drove on the lady passenger thought she saw a figure among the trees with a shiny white face and wearing a black monk’s habit. On voicing to the driver what she had seen he turned the car around and drove back. The figure was still there and began to walk towards them, veering off in another direction at the last moment. They continued on their way and stopped at the Hardwick Inn where they told the landlady what they had seen. Another couple at the bar overheard and apologized. They too had seen the phantom monk and were the occupants of the other car that had just nearly crashed into them. The landlady told them that the monk had also been seen by six other people in the preceding week.
In September of 1942 a parachute regiment was stationed at Hardwick and the sentry who was on the South Gate saw a strange figure approaching. The soldier called for the figure to stop and identify himself but he got no reply or acknowledgement. He raised the alarm and then lunged for the figure with his bayonet – which went straight through the phantom body! The figure carried on walking until it disappeared into Hardwick Hall. Luckily this soldier was not the only witness and all the other guards described the figure as wearing a ruff collar and large plumed hat – similar to clothing worn by the Royalist Cavaliers during the Civil War.
The Hall itself is said to be haunted by the ghost of Bess of Hardwick and seems to make appearances in the stately rooms of the south wing, where Bess had her own private apartments. A housekeeper was once woken in her bedroom by the figure of Bess standing over her. Not only that but Bess spoke kindly to the housekeeper and thanked her for looking after the house and its contents so beautifully.
Other paranormal reports include:
In the Chapel and on the Chapel landing – a woman seen kneeling at the altar and once when the hall was closed a man was seen walking down the steps but disappeared when followed.
A lady in blue has been seen wandering around the Hall oblivious to people watching her.
The ghost of Christiana Bruce, young wife of the second Earl of Devonshire.
A ghostly cat is said to roam the Needlework Room and the Chapel landing and in the ‘High Chamber’ there have been reports of phantom fragrances such as citrus and exotic fruits.
But the Blue Bedroom seems to be the centre of many of the hauntings and this area is often icy cold. Many visitors have reported having the feeling of being watched and some have even reported to have been touched or spoken to by an invisible entity. The bed in this room is frequently found to have an indentation as if someone had been lying there and sometimes what sound like a teenage girl crying has been heard. One visitor to the Hall reported that she saw a young woman dressed in grey standing by the fireplace. The figure then walked across the room, straight through the rope barrier marking the public route and promptly vanished on reaching the bed.
