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Bolsover Castle |
Standing high on a promontory, Bolsover Castle resembles the fairy tale notion of a castle - and this is exactly what was intended by its builders.
The design of the Little Castle harks back to an age of chivalry and romance with battlemented towers, rooms with vaulted ceilings and colourful decoration.
The Structure is a gem, fascinating to explore and even more interesting because of the contrast in style with Cavendish Apartments, Terrace Range and Riding School which are on the same site.
Bolsover Castle is the only project where all three generations of Smythsons may have contributed elements of design. Robert would have already been an old man by the time that work began. However, the planning and elevations of the Little Castle are reminiscent of his work elsewhere.
Those who visit the Castle today cannot fail to be impressed by the magnificent hooded fireplaces created from alabaster and marble; the vaulted ceiling and elaborate panelling of the Pillar Chamber (designed by John Smythson); the Elysium Room with its classical decoration and the ceiling of the Heaven Room adorned with cherubs and angels.
After Robert Smythson's death in 1614, the supervision of the work passed to John who was to have the biggest hand in its development through the design of the Terrace Range and Cavendish apartments. These buildings are thought to have been started by Sir Charles Cavendish and completed by his son some 30 years later after a succession of designs. Here the family entertained guests on a lavish scale, the most important being Charles I who in 1634 attended a masque written by Ben Johnson called 'Love's Welcome' which was performed in the Long Gallery.
Whilst building was in progress, John Smythson visited London to absorb the latest architectural fashions and returned with new ideas, which resulted in changes to the gallery windows and designs for elaborate doorways for the Terrace.
The design of the adjoining Riding School, one of the oldest surviving examples of its type in Europe, has been attributed to Huntingdon Smythson, the third generation of architects.
Here, William Cavendish, known as the 'Horsemanship' Duke of Newcastle, was to practice ' Haute Ecole', establishing a centre of equestrianism as important as the Spanish Riding School in Vienna is today.
Looking at vast indoor areas where horses where trained and the over-arching roofs of massive timbers, visitors can picture the prancing horses and the activity surrounding the blacksmiths in the forge.
LOCATION
Castle Street, Bolsover, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England.
OPENING TIMES FOR 1998
1st April - 30th September - 10am to 6pm Daily
1st October to 31st October - 10am to dusk daily.
1st November to end March 1999 - 10am - 4pm Wednesday to Sunday.
(Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day).
Bolsover Castle is an English
Heritage property.
EVENTS are held throughout the year at this property. See the District of Bolsover Events Listing for more details.
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