Chatsworth goes bling! Duke of Devonshire spends £33million revamping his famous home [tr]

UK Daily Mail ^ | March 17, 2018 | Richard Kay

[C19fan]

Not since the Windsor Castle fire has there been a makeover of one of our national treasures on such a scale. Indeed, the restoration of Chatsworth House has cost only a few million pounds less than the £37 million lavished on the castle. However, the facelift of Chatsworth, in Derbyshire — where Keira Knightley’s heart as Miss Bennet first fluttered over the brooding Mr Darcy in the big-screen version of Pride And Prejudice — was prompted not by adversity but because its owner, the Duke of Devonshire, had no wifi. That became the trigger for the biggest, costliest and longest refurbishment of his family seat, garden and surrounding parkland for almost 200 years.

[C19fan]

I wonder how much coin His Grace earns by allowing film crews to use the property.

[Tax-chick]

The Devonshires are a very interesting business, literally. This rehab provided lots of jobs for skilled workers of all kinds, and I hope Chatsworth enjoys many more picturesque years.

[Edgar3]

Stoker came to visit the Biltmore Estate last fall, to see how we operate. He is a pleasant fellow.

[IronJack]

Incredible estate. But the Kiera Knightly version of P&P sucked royal.

[Tax-chick]

I agree. Keira Knightly also played Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, one of many colorful, alcoholic figures in the Devonshire history.

[I want the USA back]

I oppose a hereditary monarchy, with specially-privileged individuals living off the fat of the land without having to work. The French had the right idea in 1789.

[Tax-chick]

I’m not surprised.

We’ve lived in North Carolina for almost 15 years, and I’ve never been to Biltmore. I think I’ll make it a goal for this year, perhaps to celebrate my oldest daughter’s moving back here from the West Coast.

[elcid1970]

Yep, that circa 1820 wifi needed a serious update.

[IronJack]

Actually, Knightly’s P&P wasn’t that horrible. I was confusing it with the abominable version of Anna Karenina.

[Calvin Locke]

Don't know, but from Wikipedia: The duke is worth an estimated £800 million.

[Cecily]

“The Duchess” was also filmed at Chatsworth. That was a pretty good movie, but it made Bess Foster (the third one in the marriage) seem nicer than she sounds if you read the Georgiana biography by Amanda Foreman.

[Jimmy Valentine]

The Biltmore Estate is well worth the visit. It is owned by the Cecil family if I recall correctly and is beautiful especially in summer.

[Tax-chick]

I still didn’t like it.

[Tax-chick]

it made Bess Foster (the third one in the marriage) seem nicer

Yes, I agree.

[dandiegirl]

I love the Biltmore. It’s beautiful. I always want to go in the rooms that they have roped off. Like the ones that go into the uppermost levels. It has an interesting history too.

[Tax-chick]

One of my friends at Weight Watchers has a membership to Biltmore, and she said members can get special admission for tours of areas that usually aren’t open.

[mass55th]

Besides Diana having been related to Georgiana, Sarah Ferguson is related as well through the illegitimate daughter Georgiana had with Whig politician Sir Robert Grey:

Daily Mail

[dandiegirl]

Good to know!

[mass55th]

I remembered seeing a program about the Gainsborough portrait of Georgiana that was stolen, did a search, and came up with this article:

Duchess of Devonshire Stolen!

[Cecily]

Interesting story. That beautiful Gainsborough portrait is lucky to have survived (partially) all that cutting and manhandling.