Hardwick Hall (inside)

The interior of Harwick Hall is just as grand as the outside. Some National Trust properties I've been to are pretty much empty on the inside with the furnishing and paintings been sold to private collectors, but Hardwick has plenty of things to look at.

More pictures under the jump:-

To see my photo from the outside of Hardwick see here, and for the gardens see here

At the entrance hall we were meet by Elizabeth of Shrewsbury herself. 

 If you do visit Hardwick I highly recommend you listen to the talk, it gives you plenty of information about the history of the building and Bess' life, and it's all done in character. The actress was brilliant, and my absolute highlight of the trip. I wish there had been more people in costume around the house, as it really brings the history to life and they are always really knowledgeable.

If you like this sort of thing I'd recommend you visit Dover Castle, when I went I had a long conversations with the King and he didn't even break role when I asked about becoming a camp follower.

Portrait of Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury
also known as Bess of Hardwick 

I really want to read a book about Bess, she had the most extraordinary life, and was known to be formidable and difficult. She married four times, and became famously wealthy. Along with her (4th) husband, George Talbot, Bess kept Mary Queen of Scots under house-arrest, under the orders of Queen Elizabeth I.

The current Queen of England is a decent of Bess.

The entrance hall and many of the portraits in Harwick are from Bess' time. I didn't get any pictures, but if you go have a look at the staircase, medieval tapestries have been cut up to decorate them.

floor rushes

I've read about floor rushes in various historical fiction novels, but couldn't really imagine them, but now I know, they are plaited grass and more decorative than I would have thought. Rushes have a slightly unpleasant smell, a bit like wee.

bed chamber

Hardwick Hall was occupied up to the 1950s, by Evelyn, Duchess of Devonshire.  This photos show what it would have looked like in her day.

formal dinning room

small bed chamber 

dinning room piano 

One of my favourite rooms to go in is the kitchens, the only downside is everyone else likes them too so they're always packed. There was various hands-on activities available, including napkin folding and making rag-rugs.

These displays were part of a local flower competition, the brief to make an arrangement that reflected the purpose of the room, in this case food preparation.

Hardwick Hall also has a long running exhibition called 'A Stitch in Time' all about embroidery, it's not my interest, but would be a great place to take your Nan.

We must have spent a good 4-5 hours at Hardwick Hall, so it is definitely worth the money, £14.00 for adults, £7.00 for children and of course National Trust members (like me) get in for free.