Had a run out to Chesterfield earlier today and decided to pop to Hardwick Hall, a National Trust property nearby. We last visited with my Mother around 28 years ago when our daughter was just a baby.
We were lucky to catch a brief 15 minute ‘chat’ about the first owner of the hall, Elizabeth, Countess of Shrewsbury. She was born to a sheep farmer, on the land where Hardwick Hall stands and was, very young orphaned. She went into service nearby and married a man who also farmed. He died after a couple of years and she went back into service, this time for the Grey family (parents of the 9 day Queen, Lady Jane Grey). Here she met her 2nd husband who was a member of Elizabeth I Royal court. He also died shortly after the marriage and her 3rd husband was Elizabeth’s Royal financier, who owned a run down place called Chatsworth. Bess got him to sell property in the south and she bought the land that her father once owned and built the first Hardwick Hall (a ruin in the grounds owned by English Heritage). There was a scandal, money missing and the Royal Court demanded Chatsworth as payment. The stress killed husband number three and not long after, she met husband number four the richest man in England who was also in the Royal Court. He negotiated a reduction in the debt, meaning that Chatsworth was saved. In payment, Elizabeth had Mary Queen of Scots imprisioned at Chatsworth with Bess and husband 4. By this time, Elizabeth Countess of Shrewsbury, Bess of Hardwick Hall was the richest woman in England outside of Royalty. She designed and had built this somewhat splendid building at a cost of £9,000 (in 1596) the cost of just the labour as Bess owned all the commodities (stone, metal, land etc). She didn’t own anywhere that made glass, so she bought a factory.
In those days, women did not inherit when their husbands died; Bess did exactly that four times and lived to a mantra of “income must never be less than expenditure”
She moved into Hardwick Hall at the age of 72 and died there 16 years later. The Queen Mother is a direct descendent of her line.
What an amazing woman.
Thank you for your views, comments and favs on yesterday’s offering. Much appreciated.
What a story! She must be in the famous books somewhere! "'Bess' is a nickname of Elizabeth I think. Good old Lizzie - too! Great DOF to see this imposing building!
As I said to Carole, Bess was a canny lass and she reminded me of the Zsa Zsa Gabor quote 'I am an excellent housekeeper, each time I get divorced I keep the house'
@brennieb If you do Benda, take advantage of the 15 minute brief on Bess of Hardwick from one of the guides before you go into the house. Fascinating and I doubt I captured it all. An amazing lady.
October 21st, 2019
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As I said to Carole, Bess was a canny lass and she reminded me of the Zsa Zsa Gabor quote 'I am an excellent housekeeper, each time I get divorced I keep the house'