It is often cited as Britain's favourite stately home and following its biggest restoration in almost 200 years, Chatsworth House is finally reopening its doors to visitors this weekend.

A forensic 10-year restoration programme costing more than £32m has returned this magnificent Peak District country estate to its former glory.

The painstaking work involved skilled teams who rebuilt turrets, replaced large sections of lead roofing and renovated some of the priceless artwork.

The high-profile project, which has been overseen by the Duke of Devonshire himself, highlights the huge amount of time, money and effort required to maintain these historic estates and is a reminder, too, of just how important they are to the nation.

The last of the scaffolding has been removed from Chatsworth House as it prepares to reopen. (Scott Merrylees).

Successive generations of visitors have been left awestruck by the sheer scale and splendour of one of the great jewels in the country’s crown and now this breathtaking building has been preserved for the next hundred years.

The Yorkshire Post says: Stately restoration - Chatsworth reopens to visitors