The film begins with shots of the exterior of Hardwick Hall and a brief shot of the dowager Duchess of Devonshire in the gardens of the hall. We then move inside and are shown the interiors of the gallery; the entrance hall, including the Abraham Smith lime stone fireplace and over mantle; the main staircase and the tapestries along one wall; the drawing room with hangings; the blue room with its tapestries; the Scot's room, decorated in honour of Mary Queen of Scots; the state room with its 'imposing hanging'; the dining room; the cut velvet bedroom and finally the high great chamber, which the commentary tells us has been described as 'the most beautiful room in Europe'. Throughout there is a description of the house in relation to its original resident Bess of Hardwick. The film ends with a shot of Elizabeth countess of Shrewsbury's (Bess) tomb at Derby Cathedral.
No credits specified
Hardwick Hall was built between 1590 and 1597 by Elizabeth Countess of Shrewsbury (1521 - 1608), who became known as Bess of Hardwick. The architect was Robert Smythson. In 1956, because of mounting debts, the house was transferreed to the HM Treasury and subsequently to the National Trust in 1959. The dowager Duchess of Devonshire was living in the house until she died in 1960. The archive's copy of this film is incomplete.