The Cascade is one of the most admired features of Chatsworth. It has amazed and delighted visitors for over 300 years. Generations of families have come to paddle in the water, picnic next to it or simply enjoy the tranquillity of flowing water and quiet reflection. It’s no surprise that in 2004 it was voted the best water feature in England by gardening experts.
But it is now in need of a major restoration to preserve it for future generations. It is very badly leaking and the structure is worsening steadily every day. It is clear to visitors that very little water is running over the steps, indicating the severity of the leakage problem. Restoration work is urgently required before the structure is irreversibly damaged.
We have received a development grant of £422,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to kick-start the project. Chatsworth House Trust, the registered charity, has now launched a public campaign to raise an additional £2.5m which will help release a further National Lottery Heritage Fund grant of almost £5m to deliver the project.
We know that the Cascade is incredibly important to our visitors - as a much-loved feature in the garden and a place for making family memories. We received donations from visitors prior to launching our fundraising campaign which is a testament to this.
With your help, we want to build on this generosity and invite as many people as possible to help us restore the famous Grade 1 listed Cascade.
With over 600,000 visitors each year, and millions of people who love the Cascade throughout the world, we can raise large sums through lots of small gifts. This is an opportunity for people who admire Chatsworth to be part of something important, beautiful and lasting - we hope - for another 300 years.
If you would like to support this project – please make a donation to Chatsworth House Trust.
Learn more...
History of the Cascade
The Cascade was built for the 1st Duke of Devonshire in 1696 and has been delighting visitors to Chatsworth ever since.
About the Cascade Project
Chatsworth's Grade I listed Cascade is in need of urgent repair. We need to raise around £2.5m to unlock almost £5m in grant funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Donate online
Make an online donation to support the Cascade project and the work of Chatsworth House Trust.
Celebrating the Cascade events
Our Cascade event programme includes events focused on wellbeing and waterplay.
Chatsworth House Trust
Chatsworth House Trust was established in 1981 to look after the house, collections, garden, woodlands, and park for the benefit of everyone.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder for the UK’s heritage. Using money raised by National Lottery players we support projects that connect people and communities to heritage. Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.
From historic buildings, our industrial legacy and the natural environment, to collections, traditions, stories and more. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.
