Written Scheme of Investigation for Archaeological and
Historic Buildings Monitoring during redevelopment work at
The Croft, Hardwick Park, Derbyshire
Planning Application No: 12/00073/FUL
Prepared by National Trust
September 2012
Written Scheme of Investigation for Archaeological and Historic Building
Monitoring during redevelopment works at The Croft, Hardwick Park, Derbyshire.
1.0 Summary
The following Written Scheme of Investigation for Archaeological and Historic Building Monitoring,
Recording and Reporting has been prepared by the National Trust. Archaeological Monitoring will be
undertaken during all ground-works associated with the redevelopment the site and during any changes
made to the existing Historic Building Fabric.
The archaeological monitoring, recording and reporting will conform to current national guidelines, as set
out in the Institute for Archaeologists ‘Standards and guidance for archaeological watching briefs’ (IfA
1999). All appropriate English Heritage guidelines on archaeological practice will also be followed
(www.helm.org/server/show/nav.7740).
2.0 Site location and description
The Croft is located at the southern entrance to Hardwick Park (National Grid Reference: SK 4588
6333). The site is bounded to the south by the River Doe Lea and to the north by the Hardwick Inn
(a largely in-tact 17th century Inn) and its grounds.
A summary of the historical development and significances of the development site is outlined in
the Historic Impact Assessment for the site which has been appended to this WSI as Appendix 1.
3.0 Planning background
Planning permission (Planning Application No: 12/00073/FUL ) for the redevelopment and
conversion of The Croft, Hardwick Park, Derbyshire has been granted by Bolsover and Ashfield
District Councils subject to planning conditions. The Croft buildings are currently used as Base
Camp accommodation. Planning permission has been granted for the conversion of the buildings to
office accommodation.
To comply with the planning conditions, provision has been made for archaeological monitoring
during all ground works and structural works associated with the development. The archaeological
monitoring works will comply with methodologies for monitoring, reporting and archiving as set
out below.
The archaeological monitoring will ensure any archaeological deposits encountered during the
ground-works and previously unrecorded architectural features are recorded and/or preserved
where appropriate.
4.0 Fieldwork Methodology/Watching Brief
An experienced field archaeologist (to be appointed) will be present during all ground and structural
works that are likely to disturb/reveal archaeological deposits/features or reveal previously unrecorded
architectural features. The on site archaeologist will act strictly in accordance with the contents of this
document, and will be familiar with national guidelines regarding archaeological watching briefs (IfA
1999).
All archaeological works will be overseen and co-ordinated by the National Trust’s Midlands
Archaeological Consultant.
Where a mechanical excavator is to be used for ground excavation work, it should be fitted with a
toothless bucket. A toothed bucket and/or concrete breaker may only be used where absolutely necessary
to remove hard surfaces and other obstructions. The ground-works contractor/site architect must agree any
changes to this methodology for excavation in advance with the National Trust’s Archaeological
Consultant.
During the fieldwork the on site archaeologist will inspect all exposed plan and section surfaces, with a
view to undertake the excavation of any archaeological features or deposits within the area of groundworks for artefact recovery and to clarify of the shape and orientation of the features. Should
archaeological remains be exposed, the archaeologist will direct the excavator operator as appropriate to
cease excavation or continue controlled machining to uncover the remains as necessary. The archaeologist
should be afforded adequate time to confirm the identification of archaeological remains and to make an
assessment of the potential significance of the remains and the impact of continued development work.
Accurate scale drawings (plan and section) will be produced at an appropriate scale (usually 1:20 or 1:50)
of any archaeological features/deposits and/or a ‘natural’ profile to illustrate the site soil stratigraphy. A
base plan will also be produced, at an appropriate scale, to map any archaeological features/deposits or
finds concentrations.
Monitoring will be undertaken during any structural changes within the building; excavation of floor
levels, opening of previously blocked openings, removal of timber boarding/ fitted furniture/piping which
may have previously obscured architectural features. Any previously unrecorded architectural features will
be recorded by a written and drawn record. The location of the architectural features will be accurately
marked on the existing plans/elevation drawings of the site.
Standard watching brief and building recording sheets will be used to record all context information (e.g.
deposits, archaeological features, stratigraphic relationships, structural remains). All archaeological
deposits and architectural features will also be recorded photographically, in colour, with each shot
including an identification number board, appropriate scales and a directional arrow. General site shots
will also be taken to show the location of the ground and structural works.
If human burials are exposed during the groundworks where possible they will be left in situ and only
removed if absolutely necessary. If removal is deemed necessary, the National Trust’s Archaeological
Consultant will obtain a Ministry of Justice exhumation licence authorising the removal of the remains.
The Police and Coroner will be informed if it is suspected that the remains have been buried for less than
50 years.
If any artefactual material is recovered during the archaeological monitoring, analysis of the material will be
completed by the relevant specialists. If the objects are deemed to be unstable they will be assessed by the
National Trust Territory Conservator and appropriate works will be undertaken.
5.0 Post-fieldwork methodology
Once the fieldwork element is completed, a fully illustrated report will be compiled, which will include a
full account of the works and the findings. The final report will include the following:
 a brief non-technical summary of the project
 a description of the site location, topography and geology
 a brief account of the archaeological and historical background of the site; description and analysis
of the fieldwork
 discussion and conclusions of the findings, including consideration of the importance of the findings
on a local, regional and national basis
 any specialist reports,
 a summary table of the archaeological contexts encountered including descriptions and
interpretations
 geo-referenced location plans at an appropriate scale
 plan and section drawings of any significant features and deposits at an appropriate scale
 colour photographs including general views and appropriate records of significant features and
deposits
 acknowledgements and bibliography of sources used
The post-excavation report will be completed and submitted to the Derbyshire County Council
Development Control Archaeological Officer within 12 weeks of the completion of the ground and
structural works. Where appropriate arrangements will be made for the publication of any significant finds
in a local archaeological journal.
Copies of the final report will be deposited with the Derbyshire Historic Environment Record (HER), The
National Monument Record, The National Trust HBSMR, Hardwick Hall Archives and the Central Filing
System for the National Trust Midlands Office.
6.0 Curatorial monitoring
Reasonable prior notice of the commencement of the project will be given to The Derbyshire
Development Control Archaeologist. The Derbyshire Development Control Archaeologist will be kept
informed of developments and progress during the works by the National Trust’s Archaeological
Consultant.
7.0 Archive
The documentation and records generated by the archaeological monitoring will be assembled in
accordance with the UK Institute for Conservation guidelines for the Preparation of Excavation Archives
for Long-Term Storage (Walker 1990). The site archive will be maintained by the National Trust as part of
the Hardwick Hall Archive. Digital copies of the archive will be appended to the National Trust’s Sites
and Monument Record.
Following the completion of the work an OASIS online record recording the project will be completed.
All parts of the OASIS online record will be completed for submission to the Derbyshire HER.
8.0 Variations to the proposed scheme
Variations to the proposed scheme will only be made following written confirmation from the Derbyshire
Development Control Archaeologist.
9.0 Health and Safety
All work will be carried out in a way that complies with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and its
related regulations and codes of practice.
A Site Risk Assessment will be carried out in advance of any archaeological monitoring.
10.0 Copyright
The National Trust shall retain full copyright of any commissioned reports under the Copyright, Designs
and Patents Act 1988 with all rights reserved; excepting that an exclusive license is hereby provided to the
client for the use of such documents by the client in all matters directly relating to the project described in
this document.
The author of any specialist contribution to a report shall retain intellectual copyright of their work and
may make use of their work for educational or research purposes for further publication.
Appendix 1
THE CROFT
HARDWICK ESTATE
DERBYSHIRE
Proposed Refurbishment and Conversion
HISTORIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Supporting Planning and Listed Building Application Documentation
Planning Application No: 12/00073/FUL
Prepared by the National Trust
February 2012
CONTENTS
1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 3
1.1
1.2
REPORT BRIEF AND SCOPE .......................................................................................... 3
SUMMARY OF THE PLANNING AND LISTED BUILDING APPLICATION ........................... 3
2.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA ............................. 4
2.1
2.2
2.3
LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY ..................................................................................... 4
HERITAGE DESIGNATIONS ........................................................................................... 4
HISTORICAL AND STRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT .......................................................... 5
3.0 ASSESSMENT OF THE HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPACTS.. 9
4.0 PROPOSALS FOR MITIGATION .............................................................................. 14
5.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................................................................................... 14
FIGURES
Please refer to Planning Application Illustrations.
APPENDICES
Appendix 1: English Heritage Listing Description for the Stable, Hardwick Inn
Appendix 2: English Heritage Listing for Hardwick Inn
Appendix 3: English Heritage Registered Park and Garden Description for Hardwick Park
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Report Brief and Scope
The following report has been compiled as a supporting document for the submission
of a Planning Application and Listed Building Consent for the change in use and
refurbishment of The Croft, Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire. The report outlines the
proposals for the refurbishment of The Croft, provides baseline historic survey
information and an assessment of the potential impacts upon the historic asset and
where appropriate suggested proposals for mitigation.
The report should be read in conjunction with the Planning Application where full
details of proposals are listed.
1.2 Summary of the Planning and Listed Building Application
(Planning Application No: 12/00073/FUL )
Drawings: Please refer to Planning Application Drawings.
Note: For the purposes of this report the Buildings known collectively as ‘The Croft’ are
referred to as the northeastern, northwestern and southwestern range
An application for planning and Listed Building Consent for the refurbishment of The
Croft, Hardwick has been submitted by the National Trust. The refurbishment will
enable the buildings (stables and outbuildings) to be used as office accommodation
for National Trust staff.
The buildings are presently used as Base Camp accommodation for National Trust
Working Holidays, School Groups and Private Bookings. Use of the site is in-frequent
with the buildings often stood empty. The Base Camp accommodation as it is at
present is poor and is in great need of refurbishment. Following an internal options
review undertaken by the National Trust it is proposed that the most suitable future
use of the Buildings is as office accommodation, with the Base Camp facilities
relocated elsewhere on site.
The use of the buildings as National Trust office space will ensure regular
maintenance and a sustainable economic future for the buildings- with the inclusion of
rentable office and meeting space.
In summary the proposed refurbishment will comprise:
•Reconfiguration of the internal layout of the Croft Buildings.
Southwestern Range
•Demolition of the 1960s extension (block-work and corrugated roof) located at
southeastern end of the range.
•Replacement and extension of the 1960s extension with a stone built structureprofiled to existing range.
•Replacement of the 1960s brick infill with glazing in the north-eastern elevation of
the range.
3
•Replacement of the concrete roof tiles in the range with stone tiles to match Stable
building.
Northwestern Range
•Insertion of a mezzanine floor to the barn.
•Insertion of a staircase and creation of opening at First Floor level in the range
•Widening of existing door opening in the southeast elevation of the range.
Full details and description of the proposed design and changes are detailed in the
Planning Application and Design and Access Statement.
A pre-application site meeting and discussions outlining the proposals was undertaken
between Mr. Charles Robinson, National Trust Building Surveying Consultant and the
Conservation Officer for Bolsover.
In addition the National Trust’s Architectural Advisory Panel1, under the guidance of
Mr. Nicholas Cooper, have reviewed supported the proposals.
2.0 Description of the Proposed Development Area.
2.1 Location
The Croft is located at the southern entrance to Hardwick Park (National Grid
Reference: SK 4588 6333). The site is bounded to the south by the River Doe Lea and
to the north by the Hardwick Inn (a largely in-tact 17th century Inn) and its grounds.
2.2. Heritage Designations
The Stables Range of The Croft is designated as a Grade II Listed Building in the
National Heritage List for England (List ID: 1109000).
The Croft (Stables and Outbuildings)
The Croft is located just outside the southern boundary of Hardwick Park a Grade 1
Registered Park and Garden (List ID: 1000450).
Copies of the English Heritage List Descriptions are included as Appendices 1- 3.
1
An external panel of Conservation Architects and Specialists responsible for reviewing changes to
building use and new build proposals at National Trust properties.
4
2.3 Historical and Structural Development of The Croft
Map Evidence:
The earliest dated map evidence showing buildings at the site is the 1830 map entitled
‘A Map of the Manor of Stainsby and Heath’, Figure 1. The map shows a detached
northwest- southeast aligned range with two smaller buildings located to the south
within the site boundary. The detached range lies within the footprint of the Stable
building that presently stands within the development site.
The Hardwick Inn and a range known as the Diary, Brewhouse and Barn are shown
immediately to the north and east of the development site. The Dairy/Brewhouse
Range was subsequently demolished some time between 1840 and 1878.
Figure: 1 A Map of the Manor of Stainsby and Heath, c.1830
5
There is little change in the layout of the development site during the next 10 years,
with the 1840 map showing the same arrangement of Farm Buildings.
Figure 2 Estate Map, c.1830
The First Edition Ordnance Survey Map, 1878, shows the considerable redevelopment
at the site, Figure 3. The detached northwest- southeast aligned range has been
replaced by the Stable building. The buildings have been extended to form a U-shaped
arrangement of barns around a courtyard. The two small outbuildings have been
entirely removed as has the Brewhouse/Diary Range to the north of the Development
Site.
The arrangement of buildings at the site today is largely unchanged from that depicted
by the First Edition Ordnance Survey Map, with the exception of the addition of a pig
sty and 1960 extension to the southern range of the barns.
6
Figure 3 First Edition Ordnance Survey, 1878
Documentary Evidence:
There is very little documentary evidence relating to the Barns. Although, the account
books for Hardwick Inn record the refurbishment/new build of a series of outbuildings
between 1857 and 1860. The amount of money expended on the outbuildings was as
follows: 1857 £964 6 5d; 1858 £312 0 0d; 1859 £162 18 10; 1860 £28 15 4d
(Chatsworth Archives).
Structural Evidence:
The original function of the Barns is as follows:
North-eastern Range: Carriage Houses, Stable and Harness Room: Mid 19th Century
North-western Range: Barn: Mid 19th Century
South-western Range: Cow and storage sheds. Mid 19th Century with 1960s additions.
The North-eastern Range (Stable) is described in its List description as:
A coursed squared sandstone with sandstone dressings and a stone slated roof with
stone coped gables and one ridge stack. East elevation comprises six irregular bays.
The centrally positioned tall gabled bay has two round-arched entrances with
chamfered ashlar surrounds and plank double doors. To the left is a doorway with
shallow triangular-arched lintel, and panelled door. To the left again a two-light
chamfered mullion, a broad cart entrance with timber lintel and a pair of double doors,
and a two-light chamfered mullion window, a cart entrance under timber lintel, a two-
7
light chamfered mullion window, a doorway with shallow triangular-arched lintel, and
a two-light chamfered mullion window.
The North-western Range (Barn) is two-storey height (open to its roof) sandstone
structure with a stone slated roof. Located at the southwestern end of the range is an
open cart/vehicular access. The elevations are plain other than two wooden framed
doorways in the southeastern elevation and two wooden framed windows in the
northwestern elevation. A flue for a wood burning stove is a late 20th century addition
to the building.
The South-eastern Range is a single storey sandstone structure with a concrete tile
roof. The south-western elevation is plain, except for a wooden framed window at the
northwestern most end of the range where the building is set on a perpendicular
alignment. The northwestern elevation of this section contains both a garage door and
planked door with window. The north-eastern elevation had seen considerable change
with two previously open sections of the former barn blocked up with brick during the
1960s to enable the building to be used as accommodation. Wooden framed doors and
windows have been inserted into the brick infill as well as the section of original stone
wall. A small block-work structure with a corrugated roof was added to the
southeastern gable of the range during the 1960s.
No original fixtures or fittings are apparent within any of the buildings- these
presumably having been removed at the time when the buildings were converted in
use from barns to Base Camp accommodation.
8
3.0 Assessment of the Historical and Archaeological Impacts
The following outlines the likely impacts of the proposed work to the Historical Asset.
Proposal
Fabric/Significance
Southwestern Range:
Demolition
of
1960s
Extension and replacement
with
extended
stone
structure.
Potential Impact
Low Impact to the
Fabric/Environment.
Mitigation
Historic Care to be taken during the
demolition to ensure that
there is no disturbance to the
Extension is a poor quality 1960s southwestern gable of the
extension.
range.
Potential during the excavation of
the
foundations
for
the
replacement building to identify
archaeological deposits (noted
that buildings shown on the 1830
map are within the vicinity).
1960s extension to the southwestern range
Archaeological
monitoring
during the excavation of the
new foundations.
Materials used to match the
existing range.
No Impact to the Setting
The
replacement
building,
Proposals to demolish the block-work extension although larger in footprint, will
and replace with a stone built extension- profiled improve the setting with materials
to match the existing range.
more in keeping and sympathetic
to the existing structures at the
site used.
Southwestern Range:
No Impact to the Historic Care taken during the removal
Removal of brick wall infill
Fabric/Environment.
of the brick infill. Frameless
and
replacement
with
glass panel chosen to
frameless glazing.
Brick infill is a 1960s insertion minimise impact to the
when
the
buildings
were historic fabric and allow the
converted
to
Base
Camp previous function of the
9
accommodation.
No Impact to Setting
The glazed panels will only be
visible from within the courtyard.
The removal of the brick infill and
its replacement with frameless
glass will enable the building’s
former use as a cow shed to be
more readable.
Brick infill within the southwestern range
Proposals to remove the two sections of brick
infill (retaining the brick pillars) and replace with
frameless glazing.
Southwestern Range:
Replacement of concrete
roof tiles with stone tiles
No Impact to the Historic Fabric
Present concrete tiles are not
original and are inappropriate to
the building.
No Impact to Setting
Replacement stone tiles will
greatly enhance the building and
the wider complex.
Southwestern Range
10
building to be read.
Proposal to replace the concrete tiles with stone
tiles to match those used in the other ranges.
Northwestern Range:
Insertion of mezzanine
floor, staircase and first
floor opening.
Moderate
Fabric
Impact
to
Historic Supports for mezzanine to be
minimal need to add some
more info on this- need more
The creation of a new opening detail
will require the removal of
historic fabric.
The installation of a mezzanine
floor will require the insertion of
supports into the historic fabric.
No Impact to Setting
Alterations are internal
Northwestern Range
Proposal to insert a mezzanine floor at the
northeastern end of the building. Will include the
insertion of a staircase and the creation of an
opening at first floor level.
Northwestern Range:
Widening of doorway in
southeastern elevation
Moderate
Fabric.
Impact
to
Historic
The materials chosen will
appropriate to the historic
The widening of the doorway will fabric.
cause
disturbance
to
the
stonework with the removal of Care will be taken to ensure
some of the wall to enable the that the absolute minimal
enlargement.
disturbance is caused. The
11
Low Impact to the Setting
Stone lintel of current
doorway will remain in
position.
The new door will be more
appropriate to the buildings.
The door will only be visible from
within the courtyard.
Doorway at present.
Proposals to widen the doorway and removal of
ramped access to the barn.
Reconfiguration of internal Southeastern Range:
Low- Moderate Impact to the
layout and installation of Biomass Boiler to be installed in the present Historic Fabric.
Biomass Boiler.
store.
The shortening of the internal wall
Mens Bathroom to be converted to a kitchenette. partitions within the southeastern
range will result in the lose of
Internal partition walls within dormitory space to some of the historic fabric.
be shorten to enable open plan office space.
No Impact to Setting.
Northeastern Range:
Proposed changes are all internal.
Insertion of internal division within current
kitchen to create WC space.
Northwestern Range:
Insertion of internal partitions to create a small
12
Internal partitions will be
fully removal to enable the
original spaces to be opened if
required at a future date.
Where required any fittings
will make sure of joints
within the stonework to
minimise the impact to the
historic fabric.
No new services are requiredexisting services will be used.
Biomass Boiler will be a
structure independent of the
lobby space.
historic fabric.
13
4.0 Proposals for Mitigation
Prior to any works taking place at the site a full photographic condition survey will be
prepared of all The Croft Buildings. During the work a photographic record will be
maintained. The undertaking of this photographic condition survey will be the responsibility
of the Project Manager (Mr. Charles Robinson, National Trust).
Archaeological monitoring will take place during the excavation of the foundations for the
new structure that replaces the 1960s extension. Should any archaeological deposits be
encountered during the monitoring a report will be produced. This will be the responsibility
of the National Trust Archaeologist (Miss Rachael Hall).
5.0 Bibliography
Lott, B., 1997 Vernacular Building Survey, Hardwick Inn, Hardwick Estate. Unpublished
National Trust Report.
Lott, B., 1997 Venacular Building Survey, Hardwick Inn Outbuildings. Unpublished National
Trust Report.
14
Appendix 1
English Heritage List Description for Hardwick Inn Stables
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Name: STABLES TO NORTH WEST OF THE HARDWICK INN
List Entry Number: 1109000
Location
STABLES TO NORTH WEST OF THE HARDWICK INN
The building may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
County: Derbyshire
District: Bolsover
District Type: District Authority
Parish: Ault Hucknall
National Park: Not applicable to this List entry.
Grade: II
Date first listed: 23-Mar-1989
Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry.
Legacy System Information
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System: LBS
UID: 79187
Asset Groupings
This List entry does not comprise part of an Asset Grouping. Asset Groupings are not part of the
official record but are added later for information.
List Entry Description
Summary of Building
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
Reasons for Designation
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
History
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
Details
SK 46 SE PARISH OF AULT HUCKNALL HARDWICK PARK
10/17
Stables to North West of the
Hardwick Inn
GV II
Stables to the Hardwick Inn. Mid C19. Coursed squared sandstone with sandstone
dressings. Stone slate roof with stone coped gables and one ridge stack. Single
storey. East elevation of six irregular bays. Tall gabled bay in the centre has two
round-arched entrances with chamfered ashlar surrounds and plank double doors. Single
light window above with chamfered stone surround. To the left is a doorway with
shallow triangular-arched lintel, and panelled door. To the left again a 2-light
chamfered mullion, a broad cart entrance with timber lintel and pair of double doors,
and a 2-light chamfered mullion window. To the right of the centre bay is a 2-light
chamfered mullion window, a cart entrance under timber lintel, a 2-light chamfered
mullion window, a doorway with shallow triangular-arched lintel, and a 2-light
chamfered mullion window. Included for group value only.
Listing NGR: SK4588163330
Selected Sources
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
Map
National Grid Reference: SK 45881 63330
The below map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. For a copy of the full
scale map, please see the attached PDF - 1109000.pdf
© Crown Copyright and database right 2011. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100019088.
© British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2011. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006.
Appendix 2
English Heritage List Description for Hardwick Inn
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Name: THE HARDWICK INN
List Entry Number: 1052315
Location
THE HARDWICK INN
The building may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
County: Derbyshire
District: Bolsover
District Type: District Authority
Parish: Ault Hucknall
National Park: Not applicable to this List entry.
Grade: II
Date first listed: 08-Jul-1966
Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry.
Legacy System Information
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System: LBS
UID: 79186
Asset Groupings
This List entry does not comprise part of an Asset Grouping. Asset Groupings are not part of the
official record but are added later for information.
List Entry Description
Summary of Building
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
Reasons for Designation
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
History
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
Details
SK 46 SE PARISH OF AULT HUCKNALL HARDWICK PARK
10/16
8.7.66 The Hardwick Inn
GV II
Public house. C17, C18 and mid-C19. Coursed squared sandstone with sandstone
dressings. Stone slate roof, coped gables and stone ridge and gable stacks. Two
storeys and attics. North elevation of five bays, the centre bay gabled. Off-centre
doorway with chamfered stone surround and overlight divided by a mullion. Studded
plank door. To the left are two recessed and chamferd stone cross windows. To the
right are three 3-light recessed and chamfered mullioned and transomed windows and a
cross window. The 3-light windows have segmental relieving arches. The first floor
has a 4-light window in the centre, flanked on each side by two 2-light windows.
Above again is one 3-light window in the gable. The windows have diamond-pattern
leaded lights.
Listing NGR: SK4590963312
Selected Sources
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
Map
National Grid Reference: SK 45909 63312
The below map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. For a copy of the full
scale map, please see the attached PDF - 1052315.pdf
© Crown Copyright and database right 2011. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100019088.
© British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2011. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006.
Appendix 3
English Heritage Registered Park and Garden Description for Hardwick Park
List Entry Summary
This garden or other land is registered under the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments
Act 1953 within the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens by English Heritage for its special
historic interest.
Name: HARDWICK HALL
List Entry Number: 1000450
Location
The garden or other land may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
County: Derbyshire
District: Bolsover
District Type: District Authority
Parish: Ault Hucknall
County: Nottinghamshire
District: Ashfield
District Type: District Authority
Parish:
National Park: Not applicable to this List entry.
Grade: I
Date first registered: 04-Aug-1984
Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry.
Legacy System Information
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System: Parks and Gardens
UID: 1418
Asset Groupings
This List entry does not comprise part of an Asset Grouping. Asset Groupings are not part of the
official record but are added later for information.
List Entry Description
Summary of Garden
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
Reasons for Designation
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
History
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
Details
Walled gardens with pavilions and a gatehouse probably designed by Robert Smythson during the
1590s and partly remodelled in the late C17. The parkland probably has medieval origins and was
extended 1665-6.
HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT
Hardwick was part of the manor of Stainsby in the C12 and was held by tenure probably from the
C13. By the end of the C13 Hardwick was considered a manor in its own right and held by the
Hardwick family. In 1583 Elizabeth, Countess of Shrewsbury (Bess of Hardwick) bought it from her
brother James and moved to the site following a dispute with her husband. An estate map of 1610 by
William Senior shows the site as it was left after Bess' death in 1608. The estate passed to the dukes
of Devonshire through Bess' second marriage to William Cavendish, and remained in their ownership,
though it was not used as the principal residence after the end of the C17. It was given to the
Treasury in partial settlement of the estate following the death of the tenth Duke of Devonshire in
1950 and transferred to the National Trust in 1959 in whose ownership it remains (1998).
DESCRIPTION
LOCATION, AREA, BOUNDARIES, LANDFORM, SETTING
Hardwick Hall lies c 10km north-west of Mansfield. The c 440ha park is on land which falls to the
south and east from a plateau. Apart from the M1 motorway, which forms the west boundary, the
setting is rural and agricultural. The north and east boundary is formed by fencing dividing the park
from agricultural land. The south boundary is formed by Newbound Lane, fencing, and the line of
Deep Lane running north-west from the Hardwick Inn.
ENTRANCES AND APPROACHES
There are three main entrances. On the north-west side of the site an entrance called Blingsby Gate
leads to an avenue planted with platoons which runs south before curving to the east and to the south
again. An entrance with a lodge (c 1825, listed grade II) called Rowthorne Gate on the north-east side
of the site leads to a drive which runs south-west and is also planted with platoons. This drive joins
with that from Blingsby Gate and continues south-west to a gateway leading to a courtyard on the
west side of the Hall. The drives were laid out 1822-4, and the platoons planted c 1825. An entrance
on the south side of the site immediately to the north of the Hardwick Inn (listed grade II) has gates
from which a drive runs north-east and then curves round to the north and enters the courtyard beside
the Hall. Views of Hardwick Old Hall are available from this approach, which is shown on the 1610
map.
PRINCIPAL BUILDING
Hardwick Hall (listed grade I) stands on a platform south-west of the centre of the site. The Hall was
built 1590-7 to designs attributed to Robert Smythson (c 1555-1614) (Girouard 1983) for Elizabeth,
Dowager Countess of Shrewsbury, known as Bess of Hardwick. The Hall is one of the finest and bestpreserved houses of its type in the country, and has been described as 'the supreme triumph of
Elizabethan architecture' (ibid).
Some 100m south-west of the Hall is Hardwick Old Hall (listed grade I) which stands on the edge of a
bluff from which the land falls away precipitously to the west. The north side of the building is set back
to the south of a walled courtyard with pavilions at the north-west and north-east corners. The Old Hall
has early C16 origins and was substantially remodelled by Bess of Hardwick in the years 1587-90
before the death of her husband, the Earl of Shrewsbury, which gave her the means to begin an
entirely new building. The Old Hall was retained for use as ancillary accommodation after the new Hall
was completed. It fell into disrepair and was partially demolished in 1740. The decision to retain the
north front was possibly prompted by appreciation of its romantic appearance and the ruins were
shown in an engraving in the European magazine of 1799. The building is maintained as a controlled
ruin by English Heritage (1998).
Some 300m south of the new Hall there is a complex of stables (listed grade II*), ancillary buildings
and cottages (listed grade II) ranged around a courtyard which is immediately south of the walled
South Orchard (see below).
GARDENS AND PLEASURE GROUNDS
The gardens at Hardwick consist of walled enclosures on each side of the Hall. They are entered from
a walled courtyard on the west side of the Hall which has a gateway with obelisks on the north side.
The forecourt of the Old Hall forms the south side of the courtyard, and to the south-west an entrance
leads into the park alongside a massive retaining wall which rises to a height of c 5m at its southern
end, where it is buttressed. There are views over the park from the west side of the courtyard. On the
south-east side of the courtyard there is another gateway with obelisks which leads to a drive running
to the stables and on to the entrance on the south side of the site. The east side of the courtyard is
formed by the wall of the Hall's West Court. A drawing probably of C17 date (guidebook, 13)shows
the courtyard with the Old Hall and the adjacent entrance with obelisks.
An area of level grassland to the rear (south) of the Old Hall is divided from the park by a wooded
scarp on the west side and enclosed by the west wall of South Orchard (see below) on the east side.
A conduit house (C16, listed grade II) lies on the edge of the lawn c 20m south of the Old Hall.
The walled forecourt on the west side of the new Hall is called West Court. A gatehouse is aligned
with the west front of the Hall and there are pavilions in the north-west and south-west angles of the
forecourt walls, all these structures being crowned with elaborate strapwork cresting. The walls are
surmounted by shaped stone crenellations which are not shown on the C17 drawing and may be later
additions. The courtyard has a stone-flagged path flanked by lawns between the gatehouse and the
entrance to the Hall. A cedar on the side of the path at the west end of the garden was planted c 1837
as one of a pair. An elaborate planting scheme with beds arranged to form the letters 'E S', mirroring
the letters on the parapets of the Hall's towers, was laid out in 1833 and is shown in a photograph of
1858. The beds were turfed over c 1921.
A gateway from the West Court leads into the south garden, called the South Orchard, which is walled
and laid out with quartering alleys edged with clipped yew and hornbeam hedges which centre on a
rondpoint. Recesses cut into the hedges of the rondpoint at the angles between the alleys form
alcoves sheltering C18 statues brought to the site in 1862 when the garden was laid out. The wall at
the south-west corner is indented, as shown on the 1610 map, and there is a gateway leading to the
stable yard entrance. A second entrance to the stable yard is aligned with the alleys which run
north/south across the garden. There is a corner pavilion of similar design to those in the West Court
at the south-east corner of the garden. This part of the garden, simply marked 'Gardyn' on the 1610
map, was probably the site of the kitchen garden. It is referred to as an orchard in estate records of
1686 (NT report c 1980), and a painting of 1828 (guidebook) shows it as pasture with grazing
animals.
On the east side of the Hall the walled East Court has opposed gateways in the north and south walls
which have stone gate piers with bold capitals, probably those described in specifications for garden
work dated 1686 (NT report c 1980). The garden is grassed and there is a central basin constructed
in 1913 to provide a reservoir of water for firefighting. There is a ha-ha of c 1930 along the east side
of the court which has low topiaried yew hedges along the top of it with a central opening affording
views to the east and to the avenues in the eastern part of the park. A painting of the east side of the
Hall of c 1785 (guidebook) shows a gravel walk aligned with the entrance with a set of stone plinths
surmounted by capitals ranged alongside it. Pieces of stonework with carved ox masks in the West
Court may be the remains of these features which are possibly the 'pedestalls' which were made in
1686.
The gateway in the north wall leads into a sub-rectangular enclosure marked North Orchard on the
1610 map which is grassed and used as a car park (1998). A pavilion in the east wall c 200m northeast of the Hall balances the pavilion at the south-east corner of the South Orchard.
The gardens, pavilions, outer (west) courtyard and the stable yard are shown in outline on the 1610
map. A number of additional small structures are shown around the perimeter walls, including a
building aligned with the east front of the Hall, of which no trace appears to survive. Estate records
suggest that there was alteration and embellishment of the gardens in 1686 but this did not alter the
basic layout shown in 1610 which survives largely intact (1998).
PARK
The park is largely open pasture land with scattered trees, clumps and patches of woodland. On the
east side of the site the land is fairly flat. A double lime avenue, called the wine glass for its shape, is
aligned with the east front of the Hall. On the north side the avenue begins c 100m north-east of the
Hall and curves to a point c 400m due east of the building. A similar configuration on the south side
mirrors this arrangement and the avenues meet, from which point they continue eastwards for a
further c 800m to the edge of the park. The avenue was planted in 1925. This part of the park is
shown on Senior's 1610 map when it extended to a point c 500m east of the Hall. It is marked
'Launde' and is shown with a few widely spaced clumps of trees. Estate records show that an elm
walk was planted in the Launde c 1655. It was cut down in 1730 and its exact position is not known.
The north-east boundary is sheltered by Car Plantation, and two ponds, called Car Ponds, lie c 1.2km
north-east of the Hall along the inner edge of the plantation. The parkland in this area, to the north
and east of the Launde, was common pasture land called Rowthorne Carr until it was enclosed in
1665. The land to the south-east was purchased from the Molyneux family and added to the park in
the same year.
A strip of woodland which shelters the south-east boundary of the park c 600m south-east of the Hall
is called Lady Spencer's Wood where a walk was cut in the plantation in 1797 for Georgiana,
Countess Spencer. The walk was extended to the east in the C19, and part of it planted as a yew
walk. The walk was maintained until the first quarter of the C20 and is now (1998) largely overgrown.
The parkland to the west is hilly, dropping steeply to the south and west of the Hall and is well
covered with mature trees. Ridge and furrow is visible on some of the level areas west of the Old Hall.
A chain of four ponds called Row Ponds is situated c 500m west of the Hall; these are shown on
Senior's map and may be identifiable with 'fyshe poules' mentioned in a rental of 1570 (NT report c
1980). These feed into a larger stretch of water called Great Pond c 150m to the west. Miller's Pond,
which is the largest of the ponds, lies c 400m to the north-west of Row Ponds. The two larger ponds
are not shown on Senior's map, but they were sketched in by a different hand. These were in
existence by the 1630s and were created by damming the River Doe Lea which runs from south to
north across the west side of the park. Extensive remodelling of the two larger ponds took place
during the period 1860(1 and they were repaired and restocked by the National Trust in 1972-6.
In the south-west corner of the park, c 600m from the Hall, there is an elliptical bank planted with trees
surrounding a marshy depression. This is the remains of a duck decoy of 1860, which is one of only
nine known decoys of this type to be constructed in the country. It was instituted to compensate for
the loss of wildfowl habitat occasioned by the remodelling of the ponds. The decoy was constructed
on the course of the Doe Lea river and took the form of an elliptical island encircled by water with a
bank around it. A cage with hatches operated by pulleys and wires was used to trap wildfowl attracted
by plentiful food and decoy birds.
REFERENCES
Journal of Horticulture and Cottage Gardener, (30 December 1875), pp 582-4
Country Life, 64 (8 December 1928), pp 806-14; (15 December 1928), pp 870-8; (22 December
1928), pp 904-11
N Pevsner and E Williamson, The Buildings of England: Derbyshire (2nd edn 1978), pp 229-36
J Anthony, The Gardens of Britain 6, (1979), pp 87-91
Hardwick Hall: Park and Garden Development, (National Trust report c 1980)
M Girouard, Robert Smythson (1983), pp 144-63
Hardwick Hall, guidebook, (National Trust 1989)
Maps
(reproduced in guidebook)
William Senior, A Platt of the Mannor of Hardwick..., 1610
Description written: July 1998
Amended: May 1999
Register Inspector: CEH
Edited: November 1999
Selected Sources
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
Map
National Grid Reference: SK 46496 64072
The below map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. For a copy of the full
scale map, please see the attached PDF - 1000450.pdf
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