New season of Chatsworth talks to tell hidden stories of history
While much of the estate is closed for the winter, the ongoing series of events will give visitors an idea of life behind the scenes and centuries of unsung heroes.
Things kick off on Tuesday, January 21, when expert seamstress Marie White will talk through a typical year on the textiles team, from conservation work to dazzling Christmas decorations.
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Hide AdThe talk will be repeated on February 27, and Marie will return on April 2 and June 23 to talk about the costumes appearing in famous portraits on the house walls.
On February 7, a preview of this year’s main exhibition, Life Stories, will bring to life real people associated with Chatsworth through portraits and objects from the Devonshire collections.
The collections and the education teams will be focusing on the stories of a few of the most significant exhibits and their importance.
On February 21, the Duke and Duchess’s son, Lord Burlington, will be joined by psychology professor Miles Richardson to explore the relationships between art and the natural world and why Chatsworth is the ideal setting to do so.
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Hide AdAs the estate moves into spring, the focus will stay outdoors, and on connections between nature and culture.
On February 28, head gardener Steve Porter will deliver an illustrated talk on the fascinating history of Joseph Paxton at Chatsworth and the mark he made on the garden.
On March 6, Steve will give a second talk on the garden’s history and present developments, such as RHS Chelsea in 2015 and Arcadia in 2019/20.
On March 13, the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire themselves will reflect on contributions to the collections, house and garden from 16 generations of the Cavendish family.
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Hide AdThey will explore the contemporary styles of each of generation, the contribution of their parents to their personal tastes, their own new additions to the house and collections, and their plans for the future.
Until March 12, tours will be available most days for guests at selected local hotels.
For more details on all upcoming events, go to www.chatsworth.org.