With Grantchester and Cambridge University in our collective rear view mirror, we headed to the Peak District and York with a stop along the way at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire.  Beyond description, this historic estate has served as the home of the Dukes of Devonshire and their ancestors since the mid-16th century (1549 to be exact).

Chatsworth House, Derbyshire. Photo: Bill Young

Considered one of the finest country houses in England, the original estate was used off and on as a prison for Mary Queen of Scots in the mid-late 1500s. Little, if anything, is left from the original estate with the exception of the Hunting Tower high atop the hill overlooking the House behind the estate.

Aside from being the home to Lady Georgiana Spencer and the 5th Duke of Devonshire and then the 6th Duke of Devonshire (a.k.a. the Bachelor Duke), Chatsworth House has welcomed every British monarch since Queen Victoria as guests of the Devonsire family. Probably most familiar to British audiences as Mr. Darcy’s Pemberley in Pride and Prejudice (2005), Peaky Blinders and Jane Eyre (2011), the inside of Chatsworth House is beyond description with its art collection valued at around £900 million.

The art of Chatsworth House. Photo: Bill Young

The accompanying garden grounds are equally as brilliant with fountains, rockery and statues galore.

Chatsworth House rockery. Photo: Bill Young

Chatsworth House fountain. Photo: Bill Young

If you want to know more about Chatsworth House, check out the Secrets of Chatsworth which ran on your local PBS station back in 2013.

We drop anchor in York for a couple of days begininng with a tour of Yorkminster Abbey followed by an historical walking tour to York including a walk down a very special walkway named after a very special Dame who just happened to be born in York.

Dame Judi Dench Walk, York. Photo: Bill Young

Wish me luck….I’m going to walk the wall surrounding York this afternoon. Said it takes 2.5 hours to circle the entire city. Hope to see you tomorrow.