The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire are about to unveil their pride and joy – and invite the world to stay in a refurbished ‘Austen inspired’ cottage at the heart of the Chatsworth Estate.

Gardener’s Cottage has been lovingly restored and upgraded to offer a sophisticated and homely retreat, for those wishing to stay on the estate and enjoy the full Chatsworth experience.

The Duchess has overseen the project personally – utilising her love of design and support for artisan craftsmen and women in the process.

The Duchess of Devonshire  commented, “I have so enjoyed planning the layout, watching the building and supervising the decoration of this charming cottage. Because some of Pride and Prejudice was filmed at Chatsworth, I used this as the theme for the decoration; I hope everyone that stays in the cottage may think that Jane Austen might walk in at any moment. The Duke and I stayed in the cottage when it was completed and we found it almost impossible to leave!”

The décor, fixtures and fittings include fine fabrics and numerous antiques – including some from Chatsworth House itself.

Set in 1,000 acres of historic parkland, the three-bedroom cottage, which sleeps six, offers home-from-home comfort combined with personal touches from the Duchess herself – who is renowned for her taste and love of interior design.

Situated just a short stroll from Chatsworth House, with all its history and heritage, and the village of Edensor, the cottage offers the perfect base to get to know the estate and explore the Peak District.

Gardener’s Cottage, formerly known as Park Cottage or House, was built in the early 19th century.  Records show a building stood on the site from 1785, however the present house is likely to be a substantial rebuild of this earlier property.  The 1858 Edensor survey describes a stone and thatched house, comprising a kitchen and three chambers, in moderate repair.

World-renowned landscape gardener Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown transformed the gardens at Chatsworth in 1760 designed out of what was then working farmland – a challenge for the great designer who often talked of a garden’s ‘capabilities’ which earned him his well-known nickname.

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