hardwick hall Flashcards
when was Bess born
1527
what class was Bess born into
the lower gentry
what was Bess left after her fathers death
a few hundred acres of land and £26
when did Bess die
1608
what was Bess title
Countess of Shrewsbury
where did Bess own estates
Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Devon and Cornwall
how did Bess acquire wealth
through marriages to her 4 husbands
what did Bess’ extreme wealth mean for Hardwick Hall
she could employ skilled craftsmen, afford the latest designs, and make use of the new technology
what natural resources did Bess have on her land
timber, slate, stone and clay
where did her iron come from
her own foundries at Wingfield
how did Bess make a lot of money
selling the materials she made on her land - the start of the building boom meant they were in high demand
what did Bess use portraits to do
convey the importance of her legacy, her family, and its continuity with the four generations it represented
she also wanted to show her loyalty to the queen by displaying portraits of her, William Cecil and the Virgin Mary
the portrait of Elizabeth was full length to represent the queen’s authority and power
what did Bess use in the high status areas
sophisticated ideas with imagery relating to classical literature and mythology
what was on the top of every tower
Flemish inspired crests enclosing Bess’ initials, ES
what did the long gallery reflect
high social status
from 1570 to the end of the 1620s what should a gallery measure
100ft
what was the purpose of a long gallery
entertaining, exercising, showing off paintings and tapestries
who did Bess buy tapestries off and what did she do to them
brought them from the estate of Sir Christopher Hatton and she replaced his coat of arms with her own
how many paintings did Bess own
97
what was the roof made out of
lead
what did the loggia allow
exercise without leaving the house, and the pleasure of looking at the view
how had staircases been built before the 1580s
had to be built around a central column, rather than a single straight flight of steps
what was the staircase at HH made of
stone
how were elizabethan gardens set out
in a symmetrical pattern within squares of varying sizes, and with ornamental ponds or possibly lakes
what did Bess use in the low status rooms
heraldry
long gallery at Hardwick Hall
ran along the whole east wing of the house
-> provided impressive views of the countryside
what was the most distinctive features of HH
the glass windows
windows at HH:
- most distinctive feature
- increased in size as you moved up building
-> higher up building you were, the more important you were - brick walls behind several of the windows to ensure symmetry from the outside but practicality and comfort form the inside
what proved that bess was practical and not prone to waste
everyday furniture was made from onsite materials
how was the layout designed to impress
- long and magnificent route from the hall on the ground floor via the main staircase to the formal receiving rooms on the seconds floor to the best state rooms on the third floor
- on the third floor there was the High great chamber, with the state withdrawing room next to it leading to the best bedchamber and the long gallery
what shows new fashions
- function of the great hall
- changes to main staircase
- development of long gallery
purpose of great hall at HH
to impress arriving visitors
great hall at HH
- Smythson turned it 90 degrees
- placed it in the middle of the house runnings from front to back (east to west)
- allowed it to be used as an impressive entrance hall
- warmer, with wall fireplaces and less smoky
- where lower servants ate and socialised
how does the staircase demonstrate changing times
- before the 1580s, staircases had to be built around a central column, rather than as a single straight flight of steps
- stone staircase at HH
- led all the way to the most prestigious rooms at top of house
- provided a ceremonial route
what were a lot of walls covered with at HH
tapestries
- silk and metal thread in high status rooms
- coarser wool in lower class rooms
how does HH demonstrate changing times
- change from medieval times - no more need for defensive structures
- not built around a central courtyard
what did HH not being built around a central courtyard mean
- able to show symmetry on outside
- smythson could design HH with a row of rooms laid out side by side
roof at HH
- made of lead
- covered rows of rooms
- gently sloping leading to gutters around edges
why was the need and function of a great hall going in decline
due to the changing relationship between a noble and his tenants
gardens from the 15th century
the nobility wanted larger gardens close to their homes to use for pleasure and relaxation, rather than areas for hunting
