BEHIND the ropes and the closed doors at Hardwick Hall lies a secret world of spiralling staircases and unseen rooms that have remained closed to visitors – until now.
As part of the events to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of Bess of Hardwick, Hidden Hardwick tours will take place at the hall, near Chesterfield, on May 13 and 19.
They are an opportunity not only to have a tour of the hall with an exper
ienced guide but also to go off the normal visitor route and explore previously hidden areas.
House and collections manager Nigel Wright said it was "a remarkable building and both the inside and the outside of the house reflect Bess's desire to show her status and power.
"What a great chance, during the 400th anniversary year of Bess's death, to have a special tour that will show visitors how this magnificent house was created.
"From the hidden floor which cannot be seen from the outside to the secret door between the High Great Chamber and the Long Gallery, visitors love the fact they are in places that others are not normally allowed into."
The tour will also include areas of the roof space where visitors will be able to see the timber frame with the wattle and daub lining of the rooms and the secret servants' floor.
Mr Wright added: "If you have visited Hardwick before and been amazed at its history this tour will really help you appreciate the age of the building and the work that went into building it all those years ago."
Bess of Hardwick – or Elizabeth Hardwick, Countess of Shrewsbury – was married four times and her power was such that Queen Elizabeth I was godmother to her first son, Henry, and Queen Mary I was godmother to her third son.
By the time her third husband, Sir William St Loe, died in 1564, Bess was one of the most eligible women in England with an estimated income of £60,000 – equivalent to millions today. She became famous for her building projects, especially Chatsworth and Hardwick Hall. The old hall, owned by English Heritage, was her birthplace.
The Bess of Hardwick tour costs £25 per person and includes a two-course lunch in the restaurant. Advanced booking is essential on 01246 858400.
The hall is ordinarily open from March to November on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, as well as Bank Holiday Mondays, from noon to 4.30pm.
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