Access and enquiries

Collection | Library | Archives

We are able to consider enquiries from post-graduate students, scholars and bona fide researchers. Post-graduate students should indicate their thesis title and, if applying to visit the archives, should include a letter of support from their university supervisor.

We regret that we are unable to answer enquiries from, or offer research facilities to, undergraduate or school|college students.

There are some good records for family history enquiries, but we do not have comprehensive staff lists for all periods, particularly for staff employed before the early 20th century. On receipt of a written family history enquiry, we will undertake a preliminary search (for which there is normally no charge) and report the results. If there is relevant material, we may then suggest that you arrange to visit the archives to undertake your research, if this seems appropriate. Our reading fees will then apply.

Please note that we are unable to answer academic or family history enquiries on the telephone.

We are unable to give access to uncatalogued papers.

Opening times
Appointments may be made between 17th March and 31st October 2008, Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays), 9:30am to 4:30pm.

Reading fees
A Reading Fee of £25.00 (incl. VAT) per person, per day or part of day is charged, but the department reserves the right to vary the fee. Payment must be made, in cash or by sterling cheque drawn on a London bank, at the conclusion of the visit. Cheques should be made payable to Chatsworth Settlement Trustees. Please note that we are unable to accept payment by credit card.

Sources of information
The Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts Guide to Sources for British History, 10, Principal Family and Estate Collections, London, HMSO, 1996, gives an overview of the archival collections.

Copies of catalogues of correspondence of the 5th, 6th and 8th Dukes of Devonshire, and of Sir Joseph Paxton, are held in the National Register of Archives, at the National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU, tel: 020 8876 3444, email, website.

A brief reading list about Chatsworth and the Cavendish family is available.

Back to the top