Waterworks at Chatsworth

The garden contains some of the most famous waterworks in Europe, which have been added to Chatsworth over more than 400 years. Hidden ponds and gentle streams contrast with the noise and play of the Cascade, waterfalls and fountains large and small.

Water pours down the 24 sets of stone steps on the Cascade, each one different so as to vary the sound of the water as it falls

The most recent addition is 'Revelation', a spectacular water-powered kinetic steel sculpture, designed by Angela Conner and installed in 1999.

There has been a 'trick' tree in the garden for 300 years, with water shooting out of the leaves and branches

All the waterworks are gravity-fed from the man made lakes on the hill behind Chatsworth, and under the garden is a huge network of pipes, culverts and streams, which feeds water to the different parts of the garden.

The tallest gravity fed fountain in the world, capable of reaching 298 feet, was designed and built by Joseph Paxton in 1843

None of the water is pumped back up the hill, so we rely entirely on rainfall to fill the lakes. Water also powers a turbine which generates electricity for the house.

All the gravity-fed fountains are supplied from these lakes 400 feet above the garden, in Stand Wood. Miles of streams from the moors feed the lakes