The photographic collection provides a useful record of how Chatsworth and its collections have changed over the last 150 years. Here the Painted Hall is shown as it was during 1880s and 1890s. The staircase pictured was installed by the 6th Duke in the early 1830s, when he replaced a horseshoe staircase dating from the 1680s. The 6th Duke also added the gallery seen in the left hand side of the photograph.
The staircase was changed for a second and final time in the 1910s, when the one pictured was torn down and replaced with that which is seen today. Those changes were made by Victor, 9th Duke of Devonshire and Duchess Evelyn, who also removed the second gallery.
