Event details
Spotlight Gallery
Included with all house tickets
The Spotlight Gallery, located off the Vestibule in the house, offers us the opportunity to showcase new or interesting items preserved in the Devonshire Collections that are not usually on display, or to tell new stories about our past.
The History and Design of the Cascade
3 April - 12 July
‘Water and fountains are the most important ornament in the gardens; they add life to them and are lively in themselves. Their clear sparkling movement dispels loneliness and we can enjoy endlessly their refreshment and murmuring in peace.’
Antoine-Joseph Dezallier d'Argenville, from 'La Théorie et la Pratique du Jardinage' 1709
In the first of two displays dedicated to our remarkable Grade I listed Cascade, we explore its history and the inspirations and individuals involved in its design.
Historical paintings, sketches by Samuel Watson, and archival materials chart its development.
Also included in the display are sculptures from the period by French artist Henri Nadauld (1653-1724), who was commissioned to create several pieces for Chatsworth.
Celebrating the Cascade
The Cascade at Chatsworth has been the centrepiece of the garden for over 300 years. Built in the 1690s to great wonder and amazement, the Cascade was an engineering feat of its time. It is now cared for by Chatsworth House Trust and remains one of the best-loved features of the garden.
Unfortunately, centuries of use have weakened the Cascade and serious water leakage through the stones has put it at significant structural risk. To prevent further deterioration, the Cascade has been turned off, and the water will not flow until restoration has been undertaken.
A fundraising campaign, Celebrating the Cascade, has been launched to restore this much-loved water feature, and awarded a grant of £4.6 million by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The total cost of the restoration project is estimated to be £7.5 million, and the Trust needs to raise the remaining funds required. A public fundraising campaign aims to secure £250,000 from our Friends and visitors to support this goal.
Learn more about the project and how you can help by sponsoring a step in the Cascade on our dedicated website.
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Textile Tours
21 April, 18 August & 13 October
Join our expert Textiles team for an overview of ongoing remedial and preventative conservation of the collection both on route and behind the scenes.
An Introduction to Chatsworth in Seven Objects
12 May, 8 July & 14 October 2026
Devonshire Collection Curator Katherine Hardwick-Kulpa, selects seven significant objects from the Devonshire Collections that provide fascinating insight into Chatsworth's 500 year history.
Curator Tour: House of Stories
30 April, 25 June & 24 September
Join a guided tour of House of Stories led by exhibition curator Fran Baker.
Chatsworth's Botanical Treasures - Archives Session
19 May & 11 September
Delve into our archives and read the letters between the 6th Duke and Joseph Paxton, revealing the background to the transformation of the Chatsworth Garden.
