Chatsworth House

The South Front and the South Lawn with the Seahorse Fountain. The exterior steps are a 19th century replacement for the original horseshoe shaped steps. (Wikimedia Commons) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House)

The River Derwent, Bridge and House at Chatsworth. (Wikimedia Commons) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House)

This engraving by Kip and Knyff shows Chatsworth part way through the 1st Duke's alterations. The south front has been rebuilt but the original east front survives. The baroque garden has been laid out, but only the first, smaller version of the Cascade has been built, and the Canal Pond has not been dug. The 1st Duke's stables are to the left of the house. (Wikimedia Commons) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House)

A modern view of the house. (Wikimedia Commons) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House)

This late 18th century oil painting emphasises the romantic aspect of Chatsworth's setting on the edge of the Peak District. The hills behind house were windswept moorland when it was built. They were not forested until the 18th century, and are still partially exposed in this view. The buildings can be seen clearly by clicking through to the full sized image. (Wikimedia Commons) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House)

The South Front of Chatsworth from Colen Campbell's Vitruvius Britannicus. (Wikimedia Commons) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House)

Chatsworth House viewed from the top of the Cascade. (Wikimedia Commons) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House)

The Cascade from below, with the Cascade House in the distance. (Wikimedia Commons) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House)

The Cascade house in full flow. (Wikimedia Commons) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House)

A view of Chatsworth from the south-west circa 1880. The stables can be seen behind the house and the Hunting Tower is visible in Stand Wood. (Wikimedia Commons) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House)

The 6th Duke's dining room. (Wikimedia Commons) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House)

Chatsworth House across the River Derwent, with the Hunting Tower visible above. (Wikimedia Commons) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatsworth_House)

rbenn250 (Atlas Obscura User)

Home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, Chatsworth House is a stately home for royalty in North Derbyshire, England. The home has served as the seat of the Cavendish family ever since Bess of Hardwick settled into the area in 1549. Surrounded by wooded, rocky hills and filled with priceless paintings, drawings, sculptures, and furniture, the estate is one of the largest and most elegant anywhere in the world. It has been selected as the United Kingdom’s favorite country home several times.

The estate is also home to gardens so beautiful and expansive that visitors to the site often tour the grounds and never think twice about entering the massive home. The gardens alone, which cover about 105 acres and are surrounded by a wall nearly two miles long. attract about 300,000 visitors every year. Though enormous by any measure, the gardens look even bigger than they are as, over six centuries of modifications, they’re been formed to look as though they blend into the surrounding park, which covers an additional 1,000 acres. The staff of Chatsworth house includes 20 full-time gardeners.

In addition to the formal gardens, the grounds of Chatsworth House hold stables that once served as the home for about 80 horses (today, it’s used for catering events and houses several of the estate’s employees); and a large hunting tower. The estate’s grounds are so large - 35,000 acres - that they hold about 450 homes and flats that house tenanted farmers and others.

Chatsworth House and its surrounding estates were used for several scenes shot for the 2006 version of Pride & Prejudice, starring Kiera Knightley and Matthew MacFayden. It was the main location used for Mr. Darcy’s estate and holds several familiar views, such as the beautiful fountain seen at the end of the movie, the black and white marble floors, and several of the statues viewed by Elizabeth Bennet.