Photo: Stephen G Taylor / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
About this place
Bolsover Castle stands on a hilltop in Bolsover, Derbyshire, its fantastical turrets visible for miles across the coalfield below.
It is not really a castle in the defensive sense, but a Jacobean fantasy built by the Cavendish family in the early 17th century on the ruins of a Norman stronghold.
The Little Castle at its heart is packed with painted ceilings and carved fireplaces unlike anything else from the period.
English Heritage looks after the site today.
Read more on WikipediaHistory
A medieval castle stood on this site from the 12th century, built by the Peverel family, before falling into ruin. Sir Charles Cavendish began building the current structure around 1612, and his son William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle, continued the work, adding the Terrace Range and the Riding House. The Cavendish family, prominent supporters of the crown during the Civil War, shaped the castle into a showpiece for entertaining rather than for defence.
Architecture
The Little Castle was designed by Robert Smythson, with later work by his son John Smythson, in an ornate Jacobean style drawing on European Renaissance pattern books rather than English convention. The Riding House, built for William Cavendish's celebrated dressage horses, is among the earliest purpose-built indoor riding schools to survive in England.
Worth knowing
William Cavendish was one of the most famous horsemen of his age and wrote an influential treatise on training horses, which he practised and taught at Bolsover's Riding House. The castle's dramatic setting and interiors have made it a popular filming location for historical dramas.
Facilities
Plan your visit
Nearest station: Langwith - Whaley Thorns Rail Station (3.6 miles)
Nearby properties
Bolsover Cundy House
View Bolsover Cundy House on heritage mapSutton Scarsdale Hall
View Sutton Scarsdale Hall on heritage mapStainsby Mill
View Stainsby Mill on heritage mapHistoric places nearby
Within 5 miles of Bolsover Castle there are 4 historic properties, including 3 historic buildings, across English Heritage and National Trust sites.
Within 10 miles of Bolsover Castle there are 7 historic properties, including 4 historic buildings, across National Trust, English Heritage and Historic Houses sites.
Within 20 miles of Bolsover Castle there are 28 historic properties, including 12 historic buildings, 5 historic houses and 4 churchs, across English Heritage, Historic Houses and National Trust sites.
Facts
A Jacobean fantasy castle built for show and horsemanship, not war, with interiors unlike any other English Heritage site.
- Type
- castle
- Location
- Derbyshire, England
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