July 7, 2016 continued....Bigger than Downton Abbey!

We caught the bus in Bakewell for the short ride to Chatsworth.    We immediately realized we were on the wrong bus after about one mile.  So, we got off at the next stop and decided to walk.  We needed the exercise and it was a good opportunity to see the landscape more slowly.  However, the hike was a bit longer and steeper than we had thought!  

We finally did approach Chatsworth.  It is really really grand.  The outside reminded me of the mansions in "Downton Abbey" and "To The Manor Born", but even grander.  Construction started in the 1500s with many renovations and additions. 

The house has 275 rooms!  Half are private for the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire who live here.  We took the tour of the public section.  It is hard to capture the grandeur.

It is full of artwork, purchased over the years when the royalty made trips to the Continent.  We saw paintings by Renoir, Rembrandt, Reubens and more.  

A few of the rooms were closed due to a secretive photo shoot.  They have filmed many movies here, like "Pride and Prejudice".  

 

There was a special exhibit about the family who live there now.  It showed pictures of some of their famous houseguests....Jackie Kennedy, Noel Coward,  Cary Grant, and Fred Astaire, whose sister married into the family.  

This is where they dined...

Just like Downton Abbey....

Later, we walked through a part of the grounds.  It is immense..  This is the view from another side....

And lots of sheep grazing ....

Back in Sheffield, we stopped on our way home to buy groceries.  We are learning the tram and bus system pretty well.

At home, we put up our feet....quite a long day.  One of our cats is very shy.  Finally this evening, he warmed up to me to be petted.

DINNER:  Stuffed peppers and leftover steak from last night's pub dinner.