CHATSWORTH, a parish of Derbyshire, England, contain ing a famous seat belonging to the duke of Devonshire. Chats worth House is situated close to the left bank of the river Derwent, 24m. E.N.E. of Bakewell. It is Ionic in style, built foursquare, and enclosing a large open courtyard, with a fountain in the centre. In front, a beautiful stretch of lawn slopes gradually down to the riverside. The celebrated gardens are adorned with sculptures by Gabriel Cibber; the fountains are said to be sur passed only by those at Versailles. The great conservatory, un rivalled in Europe, which covered nearly an acre, was demolished in 1920. The house contains a famous library and a fine collection of pictures by Reynolds, Holbein, Diirer, Murillo, Jan van Eyck, Dolci, Veronese, Titian, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raf faelle, Correggio ; and sculptures by Canova, Thorwaldsen, Chantrey and R. J. Wyatt, Chatsworth Park is upwards of 1 rm, in circuit. Beyond the river, and immediately opposite the house, stands the model village of Edensor, erected by order of the 6th duke. The parish church contains an old brass in memory of John Beaton, confidential servant to Mary, queen of Scots. In the churchyard are the graves of Lord Frederick Cavendish, murdered in 1882 in Phoenix Park, Dublin, and of Sir Joseph Paxton, the designer of the great conservatory.
Chatsworth (Chetsvorde, C/ietelsvorde, "the court of Chetel") took its name from Chetel, one of its Saxon owners. It was en trusted by the Conqueror to the custody of William Peverell. Chatsworth afterwards belonged for many generations to the family of Leech, and was purchased in the reign of Elizabeth by Sir William Cavendish, husband of the famous Bess of Hardwick. In 1557 he began to build Chatsworth House, and it was completed after his death by his widow, then countess of Shrewsbury. Here Mary, queen of Scots, spent several years of her imprisonment under the care of the earl of Shrewsbury. During the Civil War, Chatsworth was occupied as a fortress by both parties. It was pulled down, and the present house begun by William, i st duke of Devonshire in 1688.