Hardwick Old Hall

A new partnership between English Heritage and the National Trust now gives members and paying visitors access to the whole Hardwick estate. Discover the full story of Bess of Hardwick with access to both the Old Hall and New Hall for the first time.

Experience the stately ruins of the original Hardwick Hall, birthplace of Bess of Hardwick and the Cavendish dynasty. Enjoy the spectacular views of the New Hall and over the Country Park. Take an inclusive audio tour, and hear the story of Bess of Hardwick, an astonishing Elizabethan personality. Four marriages made her one of the richest women in England, with the independence, means and vision to embark on a series of grand building projects. The Old Hall, finished in 1591, still displays today her formidable skills and innovations, notably in its fantastic surviving plasterwork. An exhibition in the West Lodge describes Bess's adventures in architecture, telling how she transformed her birthplace from a medieval manor house into a luxurious Elizabethan mansion. Audio tours of property available for both adults and children.