Chatsworth Hunting Tower

Has been described as a Possible Palace (Other)

There are major building remains

NameChatsworth Hunting Tower
Alternative NamesThe Stand
Historic CountryDerbyshire
Modern AuthorityDerbyshire
1974 AuthorityDerbyshire
Civil ParishChatsworth

Look-out or hunting tower, also known as The Stand. c1582, possibly by Robert Smythson. Coursed squared sandstone with ashlar dressings. Lead roofs. Square in plan with circular angle turrets. Three storeys, the turrets rising to four storeys. Chamfered plinth. Moulded first and second floor sill bands and a pair of moulded bands defining the parapet. Moulded cornices to the turrets which have domed roofs. The corner turrets have paired cavetto moulded stone cross windows to first, second and third floor, except the south west turret which has them only to the top, as it contains the staircase, which is lit by two small square windows with recessed and chamfered surrounds. To the south a broad flight of nine stone steps leads up to the entrance which has flat arch, stop moulded surround and hoodmould. Half-glazed door. Cross window above and above again. To the north and east are three tiers of similar cross windows. Some plainly chamfered. To the west are two single light transomed windows with recessed and chamfered surrounds, to the first and second floors. In addition the north and west sides have a blind 2-light recessed and chamfered mullion window to the basement. To the east are steps down to a basement entrance. Small rectangular windows to the lower stages of the towers. All the windows have diamond leaded lights. Interior: Ashlar chimneypiece to the ground floor room may be C16. Similar but plainer one above and above again. Spiral stone staircase. The turrets have domed ceilings with moulded decorative plasterwork, probably by Abraham Smith. (Listed Building Report)

Gatehouse Comments

Banqueting house in the form of a battlemented tower with a clover leaf ground plan, suggested by Goodall as possibly relating architecturally to the designs of Henry VIII's artillery forts. Although hardly residential this functioned in a manner similar to several smaller hunting lodges and therefore is classified within Gatehouse as a 'palace'. This is a building built with 'military' or 'castle' architectural forms rather than anything ever intended for a defensive purpose.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

This is a Grade 2* listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Images Of England
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSK265706
Latitude53.2319602966309
Longitude-1.60459995269775
Eastings426500
Northings370628
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
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Books

  • Goodall, John, 2011, The English Castle 1066-1650 (Yale University Press) p. 19, 463-4
  • Girouard, Mark, 1983, Robert Smythson and the Elizabethan Country House (Yale University Press)
  • Thompson, F., 1949, A History of Chatsworth p. 23-5

Journals

  • Girouard, Mark, 1973 Nov 22, 'Elizabethan Chatsworth' Country Life p. 1668-1672