Work has begun to restore the Cascade, one of the best-known historic features in the Chatsworth Garden, with the project expected to take around 12 months to complete.

Chatsworth House Trust, the charity that cares for the house, garden, parkland and collections, marked the start of work last week, following two years of development and preparation for the £7.5 million Celebrating the Cascade project.

Dating from the 1690s, the Grade I listed Cascade is made up of 23 individually designed stone steps. Each has a different shape, pattern or tooling mark, designed to influence the movement and sound of the water as it travels downhill.

After more than 300 years, water erosion and structural changes have affected the stonework and supporting structure. The water was switched off in 2024 to prevent further deterioration and reduce the risk of collapse.

Principal contractor Paye Restoration & Stonework Ltd will lift, record and assess every stone, recutting, retooling or replacing individual stones where necessary.

Visitors will be able to see some of this work taking place. A temporary workshop is being constructed alongside the Cascade, where stonemasons will work on the stones as they are removed. Two apprentices will also be seconded to the project, providing an opportunity to develop specialist heritage skills while working on a Grade I listed structure. Paye will also recruit a graduate site manager and facilitate visits for construction management students from Sheffield Hallam University.

The project will include work to strengthen Paxton’s Tunnel, the historic coal tunnel running beneath the Cascade. Once the restoration is complete, the intention is to give visitors opportunities to explore the tunnel and learn more about how the Cascade works.

Restoration is expected to take around 12 months, although the exact programme will depend on the condition of the stonework as it is lifted and assessed.

The project is supported by a £4.9 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, made possible by National Lottery players. Volunteers have contributed more than 2,150 hours to the project so far, supporting its development and helping to research and record the history of the Cascade.

Additional support comes from Country Houses Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, The Michael Bishop Foundation and The Duke of Devonshire’s Charitable Trust, alongside other supporters, local businesses and the public.

Alongside the physical restoration, Celebrating the Cascade includes a programme of activities and new interpretation developed with local charities and community groups. Young people are recording memories of the Cascade for an oral history archive, while partnerships with local organisations are developing activities focused on nature, mental health and wellbeing. The project will help open the garden to new audiences, making more people feel that Chatsworth is a place they can enjoy.

The Sponsor a Stone public fundraising appeal has so far raised more than £300,000 since launching in 2024, with supporters sharing memories of childhood visits, weddings and engagements, or donating in memory of loved ones. With just under £500,000 still to raise for the wider project, there are a limited number of stones still available for sponsorship.

Find out more about the Celebrating the Cascade project, including how you can sponsor a stone and help us bring the Cascade back to life.

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