Structure of Hardwick Hall

What was the typical structure of houses before the Elizabethan period?

They had an internal courtyard surrounded on all sides by the house as this provided the best protection

Why did the structures of houses change?

During the Renaissance, new styles emerged and there was a smaller need for houses with the best protection

What were houses designed to show?

Symmetry, balance and order

What shape were houses built in?

An ‘E’ or ‘H’ shape

What did symmetry present?

Culture and refined taste of the owner

How did symmetry influence Hardwick Hall?

The house had no internal courtyard, had double and triple piles and rows of rooms with one or two corridors between them - Hardwick Hall was very symmetrical

What is a pile?

A post of wood, concrete or steel forced into the ground to support the building

How did Hardwick Hall use hierarchy?

The layout of the building reflected the Great Chain of Being

What was the Great Chain of Being?

A system used to separate classes and give social status - it consisted of god, the queen, nobles, the gentry, knights, then peasants (everyone else)

How is the Great Chain of Being visible in Hardwick Hall?

The ceilings get taller the further up the house you go - this can be seen in the size of the windows. This contributes to the symbolism of the house

Who lived where in Hardwick Hall?

The ground floor was for servants (with the hall and kitchens in it), the middle floor was for the family (with the Great Chamber and the Chapel in it), then the top floor was for royalty (with the Great High Chamber)

What is a double pitch?

Two sides sloping downwards from a central ridge in the roof with an ‘m’ shaped valley gutter between them

Why were double pitches needed?

Hardwick Hall had a double row of rooms

What was the roof made from?

Lead - this was a new technology at the time

What was the design of rooms before the Elizabethan period?

They only had one row of rooms, not two, so there was no need for double pitches

Where did the lead come from?

Bess’ own foundries

How popular were glass windows?

They increased in popularity during the Renaissance and into the Elizabethan period

When did the English glassmaking industry grow?

During the Elizabethan period as before that, glass was not very popular so had to be imported. But as demand increased, factories developed, including Bess’ own glassmaking factories

How did people show off through their windows?

The larger the windows, the higher the expense as it was a new technology

What saying is there about Hardwick Hall?

Hardwick Hall, more glass than wall

What was the function of bay windows?

It allowed occupants to conduct private conversations while admiring the view of the Derbyshire countryside

What is a loggia?

A covered walkway around the side of the house

What was the purpose of a loggia?

It allowed people to exercise in poor weather as they would stay dry, and they could admire the gardens too

What was the origins of the loggia?

It came from Italian Renaissance design

Did Hardwick Hall have a loggia?

Yes - one on the eastern side of the house and one on the western side

How was the loggia design at Hardwick Hall changed?

Originally, there was supposed to be a loggia running around the whole house at ground level, but this would have blocked some of the light at the level below

What was the purpose of gardens before the Renaissance?

Used for hunting in medieval houses

How were gardens used after the Renaissance?

For relaxation and pleasure as cultivated gardens became popular

How were the gardens symmetrical?

They had square shapes with cultivated gardens, walled enclosed gardens and a kitchen garden orchard

What was the function of the kitchen garden?

It supplied the house with fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs

What influences does Hardwick Hall have from the medieval period?

The gatehouse, and a few other medieval manor remains

Which influences inspired the internal design of Hardwick Hall?

French and Italian Renaissance styles, and Flemish designs

How many rooms did Hardwick Hall have?

46, as well as service rooms

Which people also helped to change the design of Hardwick Hall?

Patrons, family, friends, craftsmen and Smythson (the architect)

How many bedchambers did Hardwick Hall have?

14

Name interesting rooms in Hardwick Hall

Great Chamber, great hall, Chapel, long gallery

Where was the Low and High Great Chamber?

On the first floor

What was the Low and High Great Chamber used for?

Dining and entertaining (regular people in the Low Great Chamber as well as royalty in the High Great Chamber)

What references to royalty does Bess display?

The Queen’s coat of arms in the High Great Chamber, and these references showed a display of loyalty to the Queen and the influence of royal power and authority across England

The Great Hall

Incorporated into the entrance to the Hall and designed as a large communal space in the middle of the house

What were the advantages of rooms in the middle of the house?

They were more practical through being easier to access, warmer, lets more light into the house and provides symmetry for the house

The Long Gallery

Before the Elizabethan period, it was not common to have a long gallery. It was created as a place to walk when the weather was poor (alongside the loggia), and could be opened or closed in summer and winter

Where is the long gallery at Hardwick Hall?

On the top floor on the east side of the house so it takes up the majority of the top floor

What are the advantages of rooms on the top floor?

It provides views of the gardens and local landscape due to its high position

What does the Long Gallery contain?

Lots of artworks, such as paintings of the royal family

How many paintings did Bess own?

By 1601, she had 97

Examples of paintings that Bess owned

Queen Elizabeth I, William Cecil and Virgin Mary

What was the purpose of displaying photos of the Queen?

It represented the monarch’s power and authority so her paintings were symbolic

The Blue Room

Also called the Pearl Bedchamber, it had a blue coloured bed and furnishings. It was a private bedroom on the first floor - these rooms were less grand and more comfortable than the rooms on the second floor. The room contains many features of typical Elizabethan house features, including a four poster bed and tapestries from Brussels and a stone over mantle portraying a religious scene from the book of Tobit

What was the bed in the Blue Room?

A four poster bed embroidered with silver, gold and pearls - this shows the wealth of the gentry during the Elizabethan period

What was the Brussels tapestry in the Blue Room?

It told the story of Tobias and the Angel, which Bess enjoyed

What was the purpose of the Blue Room?

Social gatherings with the family as it was furnished to enable playing cards and games, reading and relaxing - this shows the change that houses in the Elizabethan period went through as they were no longer created for protection and security, but relaxation and socialising now

The Chapel

This was used by the household and family with two sections for separation - the upper part was reserved for family, demonstrating how hierarchy is displayed as the lower part was used by the servants and household

Why did Bess build the Chapel?

She wanted a private place to worship and imitated Elizabeth, who built a chapel at Hampton Court Palace - this shows Bess’ influence and power as she wanted to be compared to the queen

How did the use of staircases change?

Before the Elizabethan period, staircases were placed throughout the house and could be used by anyone. In the Tudor period, staircases became a main feature of the house as Elizabethan styles used timber and stone frameworks, on which they placed elaborate decoration

What was the staircase at Hardwick Hall like?

It showed a new fashion as it is a wide stone staircase with tapestries lining the walls, providing a grand processional entrance from the Hall to the Great High Chamber

Who used which stairs?

Back staircases were built for the servants, which were small and hidden unless the servant was instructed otherwise. Usually the family could use the processional staircase, but even they weren’t allowed to when royalty was present!

Who crafted the stonework in Hardwick Hall?

John and Christopher Rhodes alongside other stonemasons

Where are Flemish styles visible?

On the stonework, these designs are shown through the crests on the six towers and also Bess’ initials on the top of these towers

Fireplaces in Hardwick Hall

Many were made from marble, which were warmer and more comfortable - they were also symmetrical and mathematically proportionate so reflect the influence of the Renaissance

How did Bess decorate Hardwick Hall?

She usually used tapestries rather than wood panelling, which was more expensive but warmer and more attractive (so reveals how the gentry rose in power during this time, as well as the availability of new materials)

What furniture did Bess have?

Practical and enjoyable furniture which demonstrate wealth and status

How shows that Bess was sensible with money?

She often refurbished old pieces of furniture rather than buying new ones. She also selectively chose where to put the most expensive furniture - it was common to find fine (and expensive) French furniture on the second floor, while the other floors had furniture made locally

The beds at Hardwick Hall

They displayed the wealth, taste and social standing of Bess. The best rooms had gilded beds which were covered in gold leaf or gold paint

What materials were tapestries made from?

Silk and metal threads were displayed within tapestries in the upper rooms, and woollen tapestries could be seen in the lower status rooms

What were the Hatton tapestries?

Bess bought two Hatton tapestries for £300 - this is equivalent to £87,000 today

What carpets did Bess have?

She had one of the largest carpet collections in England. These were mainly Turkish and were used under certain pieces of furniture to show their status