15 Iconic Buildings to Explore in Derbyshire

Checkout places to visit in Derbyshire

Derbyshire

Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire, containing the southern extremity of the Pennine range of hills which extend into the north of the county.

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Iconic Buildings to Explore in Derbyshire

Bolsover Castle

This hilltop castle was built as a fashionable retreat for 17th-Century courtiers to entertain influential guests. It was used by the Cavendish family of nearby Welbeck Abbey for short stays and day trips. Its experimental design and painted interiors represent an astonishing survival. The site is now in the care of the English Heritage charity, as both a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Chatsworth House

A majestic building which is home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, and has been passed down through 16 generations of the Cavendish family. It has a beautiful garden which is famous for its rich history, historic and modern waterworks and sculptures, and its Victorian rock garden, there is something for everyone in the 105-acre Chatsworth Garden.

Codnor Castle

Codnor Castle, located near the village of Codnor, between Ripley and Heanor, was home to the powerful de Grey family for centuries during the medieval period, but now is regarding as a 'Building at Risk' by Historic England. The castle is a stone keep and bailey fortress and was established by William Peverel. The present fragmentary remains represent a three-storey keep and a strong curtain wall and ditch, flanked by round towers.

Elvaston Castle

Elvaston Castle is a stately home in Elvaston, Derbyshire, England. The Gothic Revival castle and surrounding parkland is run and owned by Derbyshire County Council as a country park known as Elvaston Castle Country Park. Its Country Park has approximately 321 acres of open parkland, woodland, and more formal historical gardens. One of the iconic attractions in this area.

Elvaston Castle Country Park

Elvaston Castle is a gothic revival masterpiece designed by James Wyatt in the early 1800s based on the original house dating back to 1633. The gardens are locally renowned for their rockwork structures and fine examples of topiary originally introduced and designed by William Barron in the 19th Century. The country park has 200 acres of woodlands, parkland, and formal gardens.

Eyam Hall Craft Centre

Beautiful 17th-century historic manor house with adjacent courtyard, restaurant, and shops. Home to the Wright family. It houses wonderful paintings and furniture. Here you can find out all about the plague which took many lives centuries ago and learn about many fascinating stories from those times.

Haddon Hall

Haddon Hall is the finest example of a medieval manor house currently in existence in England. The origins of the hall are from the 11th century, with additions at various stages between the 13th and the 17th centuries, latterly in the Tudor style. The exterior walls are adorned with climbing roses and there is a beautiful terraced garden. Haddon Hall is a popular choice as a film and TV location. A restaurant and gift shop complete the visitor's experience.

National Trust - Calke Abbey

This baroque mansion, built-in 1701-4 by an unknown architect for Sir John Harpur, incorporates parts of an Elizabethan house and is located on the site of an earlier medieval priory. The house and stables are little restored, with many abandoned areas vividly portraying a period in the 20th century when numerous country houses did not survive to tell their story. One of the unique attractions in this area and it will be a new experience.

National Trust - Hardwick Hall

Hardwick Hall is one of the finest Elizabethan buildings in the country. Built between 1590 and 1597 for Bess of Hardwick, it was designed by the architect Robert Smythson, an exponent of the Renaissance style. It is fully open to the public and received 298,283 visitors in 2019. Ownership of the house was transferred to the National Trust in 1959.

National Trust - Kedleston Hall

Kedleston Hall is a breathtaking neo-classical house set in landscaped parkland. The house was built between 1759 and 1765 for Sir Nathaniel Curzon. It has a collection of fine paintings and furniture and has the most complete and unaltered examples of Robert Adam interiors in England. It was one of the fine examples of architecture and also it will be worth visit.

National Trust - Sudbury Hall and the Museum of Childhood

Sudbury Hall is a country house in Sudbury, Derbyshire, England. One of the country's finest Restoration mansions, it has Grade I listed building status. Discover remarkable 17th-century craftsmanship, exquisite plasterwork, wood carvings and classical story-based murals. Meet knowledgeable room hosts and volunteers and be amazed by the grandeur of the Great Staircase, the Long Gallery and the captivating story of this historic house.

Peveril Castle

The imposing ruins of Peveril Castle stand high above the pretty village of Castleton in the heart of Derbyshire's Peak District. Mentioned in the Domesday survey, Peveril Castle is one of England's earliest Norman fortresses. The keep was built by Henry II in 1176. It served as a base for the government of the local area. One of the iconic building and it attracts a lot of visitors here.

Renishaw Hall & Gardens

Renishaw Hall and Gardens boasts 7 acres of stunning gardens created by Sir George Sitwell in 1885. The Italianate gardens feature various rooms with extravagant herbaceous borders. Rose gardens, rare trees, and shrubs, National Collection of Yuccas, sculptures, woodland walks and lakes create a magical and engaging garden experience.

Riber Castle

Riber Castle is one of the Peak’s famous follies having been built by a local industrialist to reside in at one time. Standing at around 853 feet above sea level, high above the Derwent Valley, with its dramatic silhouette of 90 foot high towers and 1450 foot of battlements. It has beautiful gardens stretching down the hillside and offered a world-famous water cure-all until it closed in the 1950s. Today the building is the headquarters of Derbyshire County Council.

The Pavilion Gardens

The Pavilion Gardens is a beautiful, historic venue Set within twenty-three acres of magnificent, landscaped gardens and play areas, dating back to 1871 which superbly shows off the Victorian splendor of Buxton. The unique personality and characteristics of this Grade II listed building also provides the ideal backdrop for private bookings and Pavilion Gardens offers comprehensive and bespoke packages for weddings and special occasions, conferences and meetings, festivals and events.

Map of Iconic Buildings to explore in Derbyshire