The original stonework

With lead paint ready for gold leaf and smalt

The finished result

On the West Front, in addition to the gold leaf, colour has been introduced to the pediment and the decorative frieze by using an Italian technique called smalting. Smalt is glass which is strongly coloured with cobalt oxide and reduced to a powder. It is sprayed onto lead paint that has been previously applied to the stone. This is the first time in living memory that this technique has been used in the UK.

Sean Doxey
Head of Special Projects

Facelift in the Stables

The Carriage House refurbishment began in earnest last week; sleek new servery, granite work surfaces and state of the art heating units have all been installed. I have had a few sleepless nights after some small glitches, but after a couple of emergency calls to tradesmen we are well on the way to our new upgraded Carriage House restaurant and hope to welcome our first guests on Thursday. We are still working with the Duchess to choose our new tables and chairs to complete the look, so watch out for the next exciting instalment.

Richard Palmer
Head of Catering and Retail

Blue Peter comes to Chatsworth

On 5th December a film crew from Blue Peter were at Chatsworth to film for their Christmas special. Head guide Heather Redmond took the crew on a tour of the Christmas displays, and was interviewed by Blue Peter Presenter Michelle Ackerley about the origins of Christmas traditions. Later on Michelle and the crew joined gardener Mick Brown in the potting shed to learn how to make Christmas wreaths. Mick helped Michelle to create her own traditional wreath, which she then accessorized using homemade stars. The Blue Peter wreath now hangs proudly on the door in the Vestibule between the Dining room and the sculpture gallery, so make sure to have a look when you’re in the house. The Blue Peter Christmas special is due to air on Monday 12th December at 4.30pm on BBC One.

Festivities at the stables

Christmas at Chatsworth is always a great time full of happy festive visitors (even if it does get a little hectic  at times). What I really love is coming back in January after the holidays  to the  calmness  and tranquillity of the park, it’s truly a stunning site with crisp  blue skies and a low winter sun, a detox in itself!

I’m a mad shopper so I was thrilled that last year I could hit the January sales here in the stables. I found myself some real bargains from the Interiors shop one of my favourite shopping haunts all year so a sale is a big bonus. A brisk winter walk in the park can now be finished off with a warming hot chocolate or even a  seasonal lunch in the Carriage House  Restaurant which makes it a lot easier to keep the children happy!

The stables shops and Carriage House restaurant will be open from 9 January - 10 am until 4.30 pm seven days a week.

Kay Rotchford
Event Business Development & Planning

Green Tourism Business Scheme Award

Chatsworth has recently been awarded a Silver award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) the largest sustainability certification programme of its kind, with over 2000 members. Chatsworth was graded on 145 different sustainability criteria through a visit in October and it was commented that Chatsworth has made an excellent start for what is an outstanding visitor attraction. 

This coincides with the fantastic results from our first full year of recycling. We have been able to send over 28% of all our waste directly to be recycled. At the Farm shop and Carriage House restaurant we have been reusing suppliers’ packaging instead of throwing it away. This not only saves money to reinvest in other green projects, but is a crucial step in improving the sustainability of the Estate. Over the coming months we aim to further improve our percentage of recycling, as well as working to the recommendations of the Green Tourism Business Scheme to continually improve our environmental performance.

Sam Porteous

Environment, Health and Safety Officer

Scaffolding is coming down

Visitors to the garden this week will notice that the south front of the house is slowly emerging from the veil of white plastic and scaffolding which has recently hidden the house while the stonework has been cleaned and restored.

I wandered through the garden today and couldn’t believe how stunning the newly revealed exterior, gilded window frames, balustrade and refurbished masonry look. It will look fantastic when the whole south front is uncovered in December. The work is part of our ongoing Masterplan, a major project of essential restoration and development, which is being funded by the Chatsworth House Trust; all visitor admission income goes direct to this charity, for the long term protection of Chatsworth. It is great to visibly see how visitor admission is making such a difference here at Chatsworth.

Chloe Roberts

E-Marketing Executive