Chatsworth revealed in 2010
The house, garden, farmyard, gift shops and restaurants open on Sunday 14 March 2010, with fabulous new displays, restored rooms and our 'Celebrating Deborah Devonshire' exhibition. The 1000 acre park, the farm shop and its restaurant are open all year round.
2010 will be a landmark year for Chatsworth, home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, with more of the house open to visitors than ever before.
After years of painstaking work and restoration, funded by the Chatsworth House Trust, we open a new visitor route through the house, including a completely new gallery for displaying art and treasures from the collection, important rooms newly restored, elegant new displays celebrating the legendary Duchess Georgiana, and an exhibition celebrating the 90th birthday of Deborah Devonshire, the present Dowager Duchess.
Other innovations this year include access to the restored stone courtyard at the heart of the house, completely new guidebooks and audio tours, far fewer stairs for all visitors and a new lift giving full disabled access to all three floors of the house for the first time. Chatsworth's tradition of welcoming every visitor warmly continues in 2010, with visitors invited to quiz our friendly team, or try a talk or tour, to discover more about the intriguing people and events that have shaped Chatsworth's history over five centuries.
Highlights of the new displays will include our most spectacular ever array of family portraits spanning 450 years, on the walls of the restored Oak staircase, and the life and tastes of Duchess Georgiana reflected in new permanent displays of portraits, furniture and works of art she commissioned or acquired, many not seen by visitors before.
Celebrating Deborah Devonshire - 14 March to 31 October 2010
In honour of the 90th birthday of Deborah, now Dowager Duchess of Devonshire and the last surviving Mitford sister, we mark the nine eventful decades of her life with a special exhibition illustrating her many interests and achievements. Fascinating personal material and images, much never seen before, will offer a unique insight into the Dowager Duchess's life and work, from her childhood in Oxfordshire and marriage, her friendships with people as diverse as Lucian Freud, Evelyn Waugh, Jack Kennedy, Tom Stoppard and Alan Titchmarsh, to her many years of public service, and current well-earned status as a best-selling author and national treasure. Exhibition free with house admission.
Treasure displays
In the new North gallery on the 2nd floor, visitors will see a select display of rare treasures, including diamonds and colourful jewels, and other precious objects and rarities. In the same gallery will be an intriguing selection of 20th century paintings including some of the family portraits by Lucian Freud.
A packed events programme
Our events programme in 2010 will be full of old favourites and new ideas. The annual Country Fair, described by Alan Titchmarsh as the country's 'best outdoor show' takes place annually at the end of the summer holidays; our international horse trials in May offers a lovely spring family day out in the glorious landscape of the park; the Tudor Fair will return to the garden in May, and we will have further mysteries to reveal in our third summer of secrets and surprises.
New this year will be a spectacular Tulip festival, in conjunction with de Jager bulbs, running alongside our Florabundance floral celebration in the house, running for six days from Saturday 1 May 2010.
As usual, we will also offer everything from behind the scenes tours, sculpture installations and discovery days, to special gourmet occasions, floral workshops, car rallies and food markets.
A Russian Christmas
In 2010 we will offer a Russian Christmas on the two lower floors of the house, celebrating the traditions and sights of a cold and sparkly northern winter, and the fabulous glamour and richness of Russian art, folk tales and traditions. Alongside these unique displays will be superb seasonal shopping and food, special evening openings and gourmet feasts, our live Nativity performances with animals from the farmyard, Christmas markets and much, much more. Please note that the 2nd floor rooms are closed each winter for annual conservation and housekeeping.
Better access for all
Chatsworth has always prided itself on the welcome we offer all visitors. Now we are able to offer full lift access to all floors of the historic building for the first time, ensuring that visitors using wheelchairs are able to share the same experience as all our other visitors, and see everything the house has to offer. The Chatsworth team are always ready to help you plan your visit; call us on 01246 565300 to ensure you have the access support you need.