Hardwick Hall

Question 1

Who built Hardwick Hall

Answer 1

Bess of Hardwick

Elizabeth Hardwick who became Countess of Shrewsbury

Question 2

When did Bess of Hardwick live

Answer 2

1527-1608

Question 3

When was Hardwick Hall built

Answer 3

1590-1597

Question 4

Who was the architect

Answer 4

Robert Smythson

The first time an architect designed a house.

The first “english architect”

Also designed Longleat and Wollaton Hall

Question 5

Who was Sir John Zouche

Answer 5

Head of the higher gentry family Bess was sent to work for at Cognar Castle

Question 6

Who was Bess’s first husband

Answer 6

Robert Barlow
m1543-1544

He died in 1544

Question 7

Who was Bess’s second husband

Answer 7

Sir William Cavendish
m 1547-1557

The Treasurer of the King’s Chamber

Met at Court or when she was in the service of the Grey family

He was much older and very wealthy from dissolution of monasteries

Bought Chatsworth estate

Left Bess with lots of properties but in lots of debt to Royal family

Question 8

Who did Bess marry third

Answer 8

Sir William St Loe
m 1559-1565

Captain of the Guard of Elizabeth

From Devon and Cornwall

Managed to get Bess’s debt reduced and removed

?Died of poison left everything to Bess and an income of 20 million /year in todays terms

Question 9

Who was Bess’ final husband

Answer 9

George Talbot the Earl of Shrewsbury
m 1567-1584

Marriage unhappy dissolved in 1584.

He died in 1590

Question 10

What did Bess do in 1583

Answer 10

Bought the old manor house where she was born

Question 11

What did Bess do 1585-1590

Answer 11

Remodelled the old Hardwick Hall

Question 12

What did Queen Elizabeth say about Bees

Answer 12

There is no lady in this land that I better love or like

Question 13

When did Bess move into the new Hardwick Hall

Answer 13

Oct 1597

Question 14

Who lived with Bess in Hardwick Hall

Answer 14

Her granddaughter Arbella Stuart who had a claim on the throne

Question 15

How many rooms did Hardwick Hall have

Answer 15

46

Question 16

How many bedchambers were there

Answer 16

14 bedchambers

Blue room - Pearl Bedchamber

Question 17

What were the key rooms aside from the bedchambers

Answer 17

Great Hall
Processional great staircase
Long Gallery
Chapel
High Great chamber
Low Great chamber

Question 18

What is a famous rhyme about Hardwick Hall

Answer 18

Hardwick Hall
More glass than wall

Question 19

Where did the glass come from

Answer 19

Wingfield Glassworks

Owned by bess from 1590 after Gilbert Taylor handed them over after George Talbot’s death and a bit of an argument

Question 20

What are key features of Hardwick Hall

Answer 20

Show of Influence and power and wealth
Symmetrical
Ornamental pillars
Emphasis of light
Chimneys
Great Hall
Glass
Loggia
Chapel
Double row roof
Long Gallery portraits
Gideon Tapestries

Question 21

What is significant about the height of the windows

Answer 21

Increase in height as you go up the building

Parallel who used the floors and society

Ground floor - servants
First floor - family
Second floor royalty significant guest

Question 22

Who did the masonry work

Answer 22

John and Christopher Rhodes

Question 23

What style was the stonework

Answer 23

flemish ornamental especially the crests with ES and a coronet

Question 24

What was the approach to Hardwick Hall like

Answer 24

Had an impressive gatehouse
Long drive
Lots of stonework and crests visible
Very grand and spoke of wealth
Linked to previous medieval design and defence

Question 25

How many servants worked at Hardwick Hall

Answer 25

30

Question 26

What did the servants wear

Answer 26

Blue liveried uniforms

Question 27

What was significant about the Great Hall

Answer 27

Change from medieval times where it was the centre of the house, used for administration, two stories high, where everyone ate. Hardwick Hall Great Hall was an entrance, one storey high, less important, where servants ate. It was in the middle of the hosueand at 90 degree angle to main house Still very impressive large marble fireplace, coat of arms

Question 28

What was the staircase like

Answer 28

Large provided a ceremonial / grand processional route to upper floors for important guests

Question 29

Where were the state rooms

Answer 29

top floor

Question 30

What was the Long Gallery like

Answer 30

Long good for indoor exercise. Ornate ceilings, fantastic views, 97 paintings, Gideon tapestries

Question 31

What are the Gideon tapestries

Answer 31

Famous panel tapestries showing life of biblical Gideon

Question 32

Who did Bess buy the Gideon tapestries from

Answer 32

Sir Christopher Hatton

Question 33

What is the blue room

Answer 33

Used to be Pearl bedchamber Gold silver pearl embroidery Brussels tapestries

Question 34

What was the low great chamber used for

Answer 34

Entertaining family

Question 35

What was the high great chamber used for

Answer 35

Entertaining royalty, important guests Had Queens coat of arms over fireplace

Question 36

What was the roof like

Answer 36

Double pitch so needed M shaped gutter and a lot of lead

Question 37

Where did lead come from

Answer 37

Bess's foundries in Winsler. Also Bonsall and Aldwark

Question 38

What was the furniture like

Answer 38

Practical and enjoyable French design and fashionable Wood from estate Often repurposed and collected over decades

Question 39

What wood panelling was there

Answer 39

none there were huge tapestries instead to decorate walls

Question 40

What were the carpets

Answer 40

Turkish Rich and designed to match curtains et

Question 41

How many paintings did Bess have

Answer 41

97 67 were portraits Full length portrait of Queen

Question 42

Who did the marble work

Answer 42

Thomas Accres

Question 43

Why was marble important

Answer 43

Expensive Sign of wealth

Question 44

What were the grades like

Answer 44

No longer for hunting like medieval times. For pleasure and enjoyment. symmetrical squares, ornaments ponds, lake Walled garden and orchard

Question 45

What des Prodigy House mean

Answer 45

Hardwick Hall was a prodigy house first of new style and design

Question 46

What were country houses used for in medieval times

Answer 46

defence Administrative centre county Employment Had an open courtyard design

Question 47

What were country houses used for in Elizabethan times

Answer 47

Show wealth and power Show refined taste Open courtyards Comfort Privacy Fashionable Home not a fortress

Question 48

What was the main design of elizabethan houses including Hardwick Hall

Answer 48

influenced by italian renaissance symmetrical, balanced, ordered E shaped to honour Queen Elizabeth

Question 49

Who did the plasterwork in Hardwick Hall

Answer 49

Abraham Smith

Question 50

Who did the painting

Answer 50

French partner John Ballechouse

Question 51

What did the Great Chamber replace

Answer 51

The medieval Great Hall

Question 52

What is notable about the chimneys in Hardwick Hall

Answer 52

Straight placed within the internal walls to be symmetrical and reflect classical design Also more efficient heating In long gallery the chimney pieces contained massive statues of Justice and Mercy

Question 53

What was the plasterwork like

Answer 53

Elaborate geometric designs showing latest Renaissance fashions

Question 54

What was over the fireplace in the long gallery

Answer 54

A carved ornamental with references to the Hardwick and Cavendish families

Question 55

Where is Hardwick Hall

Answer 55

Derbyshire Between Mansfield and Chesterfield

Question 56

How big is the Hardwick Hall estate

Answer 56

2500 acres

Question 57

Who were Bess Hardwick parents and siblings

Answer 57

John Hardwick Brother James Hardwick

Question 58

Who Did Earl of Shrewsbury and Bess look after

Answer 58

Mary Queen of Scots Called a rift between the couple

Question 59

What was the relationship between Mary Queen of Scots and Bess like

Answer 59

worked on Oxburgh tapestries Mary under control with Bess and no trouble

Question 60

How many children did Bess of Hardwick have

Answer 60

8 All with William Cavendish