The History of Hardwick Hall
Hardwick Hall is an architecturally significant Elizabethan-era country house located in Derbyshire, England. The structure was built between 1590 and 1597 for Bess of Hardwick, the Countess of Shrewsbury. At the time of its construction, she was the wealthiest woman in England, surpassed only by Queen Elizabeth I. The hall was designed by the architect Robert Smythson and represents one of the earliest English interpretations of the Renaissance style.
The house is situated within the 2,500 acre Hardwick Estate. This surrounding landscape consists of meadows, woodland, and ponds. The building remains a significant example of the Elizabethan prodigy house, reflecting the ambition and status of its original owner.
Architecture and Building Design
Hardwick Hall is a leading example of the Elizabethan prodigy house. Built between 1590 and 1597, the structure reflects the bold architectural ideas of the late sixteenth century. The design is notably symmetrical, a departure from the irregular forms common in earlier English domestic architecture. This symmetry provides a sense of order and balance to the exterior silhouette. The architect, Robert Smythson, utilized a design that emphasized light and verticality, a style that would influence subsequent English building traditions.
The hall is characterized by its extensive use of glass. Large glazed windows dominate the facade, leading to the historical observation that the building contains more glass than wall. To accommodate these expansive windows without compromising the structural integrity of the exterior, the chimneys are integrated into the internal walls. This technical solution allowed for the creation of the vast, luminous spaces that define the interior. The main staircase is designed to twist and turn as it ascends toward the High Great Chamber, which is illuminated by eight large windows.
The Extensive Textile Collection
The Hardwick Hall textiles comprise a significant assembly of 16th and early 17th century needlework. This 400-year-old collection represents the largest accumulation of embroidery, canvaswork, and other textiles preserved by a single private family. Much of the surviving material can be traced back to a detailed inventory compiled by Bess of Hardwick in 1601.
The interior displays include Flemish tapestries and painted wall-hangings. These hangings are found alongside Gideon tapestries and various wall hangings. The decorative scheme is further defined by coloured plaster friezes and inlaid furniture, which complement the textile work within the rooms. The preservation of these items provides a direct link to the domestic arrangements of the Elizabethan era.
Masterpieces of the Collection
The holdings at Hardwick Hall include a significant assembly of original portraits and painted wall-hangings. These works sit alongside Persian table-carpets and Flemish tapestries that have been preserved within the house. The interior decoration is further defined by coloured plaster friezes and inlaid furniture. These objects remain part of the domestic environment, many of which were documented in an inventory compiled by Bess of Hardwick in 1601.
Specific portraiture within the collection includes William Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Devonshire (1672-1729), painted in 1714 by Charles Jervas. Other notable likenesses include An Unidentified Widow, known as Elizabeth Hardwick ('Bess of Hardwick'), Countess of Shrewsbury (c.1527-1608), dating to about 1575 by Cornelis Janssens van Ceulen. The presence of James Abercrombie, 1st Baron Dunfermline (1776–1858), from 1815 by John Jackson, demonstrates the continued accumulation of family and peerage portraits over several centuries.
The collection also contains Lady Elizabeth Montagu, painted by Godfrey Kneller in 1698. Other works include Horatio Walpole, 1st Baron Walpole of Wolterton (1678-1757), from 1739 by Jean-Baptiste van Loo, and John Manners, 1st Duke of Rutland (1638 – 1711), from 1703 by Johann Closterman. These paintings, alongside the textiles and decorative furniture, constitute the material record of the estate's history.