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Historic Environment: Hardwick Hall Flashcards

1
Q

Who was Bess of Hardwick?

A

-Elizabeth Hardwick was a member of the gentry during the Elizabethan period

-Bess was married four times

-Bess’ marriages provided Bess with the wealth she needed to transform Hardwick Hall

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2
Q

Who was Bess of Hardwick married to?

A

-1547: Married Sir William Cavendish, a wealthy man who gained his wealth from the Dissolution of the Monasteries

-Third marriage to Sir William St Loes provided Bess with a higher social status and wealth

-Bess’ final marriage was to George Talbot, the 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, but their relationship broke down in 1583

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3
Q

Why was Bess’ marriage to the Earl of Shrewsbury beneficial?

A

-Shrewsbury owned agricultural land, coal mines, glassworks, iron foundries and ships

-Bess and Shrewsbury had a good relationship with Elizabeth I

-The Earl of Shrewsbury died in 1590, when Bess was in her 60s

-Bess became one of the richest people in England

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4
Q

What was Bess’ link to Elizabeth I?

A

-Bess and Shrewsbury were given the responsibilities of guarding Mary Queen of Scots in 1569

-Elizabeth supported Bess when her relationship with Shrewsbury broke down

-Their relationship with Elizabeth showed their power and influence in England

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5
Q

What was Bess known for?

A

Being:

-Hardworking, Organised, A good businesswoman, Intelligent, Beautiful

-Bess demonstrated that the gentry class were becoming increasingly wealthy during Elizabeth’s reign

-Bess’ wealth, status and power is demonstrated throughout Hardwick Hall

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6
Q

Who was Robert Smythson?

A

-An architect and surveyor, the role of architect was new during the Elizabethan period

-Previously worked on Longleat House as a stonemason, which Bess greatly admired

-Was inspired by Renaissance architecture

-This was reflected in houses Smythson designed such as Hardwick Hall and Wollaton Hall

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7
Q

Where is Hardwick Hall?

A

-Hardwick Hall is in Derbyshire, 150 miles north of London

-Built next to Hardwick Old Hall which was owned by Bess’ father

-Old Hardwick Hall was a medieval manor house

-Bess also renovated old Hardwick Hall as well as Hardwick Hall

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8
Q

How did Bess use the farmland?

A

-Farmed sheep and cattle

-The meat and food from the animals went to the house kitchens

-Wool was used by the house or sold

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9
Q

How did Bess use the mines?

A

-Mined stone and slate

-Used the materials to build Hardwick Hall

-Sold materials from the area to others to build houses etc.

This contributed towards Bess’ wealth

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10
Q

How did Bess use the factories?

A

-Built factories for brick and glass-making and new technology

-Used the products made in the factories to build Hardwick Hall, e.g. the glass windows in the hall

-Sold the products from the area, contributed towards Bess’ wealth

-Contributed towards the Great Rebuilding of Elizabeth’s ‘Golden Age’

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11
Q

How did Bess use the land?

A

-Rented and leased land

-This increased her wealth as she rented and leased her land to local people

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12
Q

How did Bess use the forest?

A

-Harvested the wood

-Used the wood to build Hardwick Hall

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13
Q

What were country houses before Elizabeth used for?

A

-Defence and protection of the inhabitants

-Employment for the local area

-A communal centre for the local community

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14
Q

What were houses during the Elizabethan period used for?

A

-Demonstrate wealth, on both the inside and outside of the house

-Provide comfort and privacy for the inhabitants

-Demonstrate intellect and fashion

-Elizabethan homes demonstrated that England was peaceful, residents in England felt that they could build homes rather than fortresses

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15
Q

How were houses before the Elizabethan period structured?

A

-structured around an internal courtyard

-This was to provide protection

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16
Q

How did the structure of houses change in the Elizabethan period?

A

-Due to Renaissance, changed dramatically

-Houses during the Elizabethan homes were designed to show symmetry, balance, order, to show culture/ refined taste

The Elizabethan country home structure was typically
built in an ‘E’ or ‘H’ shape

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17
Q

Where can symmetry be seen in Hardwick Hall?

A

Mainly on the outside of the building:

-The entrance facades

-External elevations

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18
Q

What did symmetry allow for at Hardwick Hall?

A

-No internal courtyard

Double/ triple piles

-Rows of rooms that have one or two corridors between them, before the 1540s homes were usually one room deep

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19
Q

How did the structure of Hardwick Hall demonstrate the Great Chain of Being Hierarchy?

A

-The ground floor was for the servants, i.e. the hall and kitchens

-The middle floor was for the family, i.e. the Great Chamber and the Chapel

-The top floor was for royalty, i.e. the Great High Chamber

-The glass windows also increase in length on each level of the house, which contributed towards the houses’ symbolism of hierarchy in Elizabethan society

-This highlighted the belief in the “Great Chain of Being” in the Elizabethan period

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20
Q

What was the importance of the Roof at Hardwick Hall?

A

-Hardwick Hall had a double row of rooms which needed double pitches with a M- shaped valley gutter between them

-They were made out of lead, which was a new technology of the time

-Previously houses did not need double pitches as the houses were only one room deep

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21
Q

How did Elizabeth source the lead for her roof?

A

-All the lead was made at Bess’ own foundries at Aldwark, Winster and Bonsall

-They had to be accessible for repairs and general use of the roof

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22
Q

What was the importance of the Windows at Hardwick Hall?

A

-Glass showed great wealth in an Elizabethan home

-Glass was a new technology which Bess used in her building of Hardwick Hall

-One of the most distinctive features of Hardwick Hall is its glass windows, it is known as having “more glass than wall”

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23
Q

How did the manufacture and use of glass change in the Elizabethan period?

A

-Glass windows in Elizabethan houses became very popular

-Before Elizabeth’s reign, glassmaking in England was almost non-existent, so it was mainly imported

-The glass industry in England grew due to the demand for big windows in Elizabethan houses

-Bess created her own glass factory to supply the glass for Hardwick Hall

24
Q

Why did Robert Smythson include Bay windows?

A

To allow for:

-Private conversations

-A place to admire the view

25
What are loggias?
A loggia is a covered walkway, inspired by the Italian Renaissance
26
What was the significance of the loggia?
The loggia allowed people to: -Exercise in poor weather -Admire the gardens during poor weather -At Hardwick Hall, there is a loggia on both the western and eastern sides of the house
27
How were the grounds used before the Elizabethan Period?
Medieval houses used their grounds mainly for hunting
28
How did the use of the grounds and gardens change in the Elizabethan period?
From the 15th Century onwards, homeowners used their grounds for relaxation and pleasure
29
What features of the grounds at Hardwick Hall show inspiration from the Renaissance?
-The symmetrical pattern of the gardens, in squares or quarters -Cultivated gardens, walled enclosed gardens -A kitchen garden and orchard which supplied the house with fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs
30
How does Hardwick Hall show links to the Medieval Period?
The gatehouse which is meant to appear impressive and slightly intimidating
31
What was the design of the house influenced by?
-French and Italian Renaissance styles -Flemish designs -Patrons, friends, family -Craftsmen from the time -Robert Smythson
32
How many rooms were there in Hardwick Hall
46, including: -14 bedchambers -Low Great Chamber -High Great Chamber -Great Hall -The long gallery -A chapel
33
What was the use of the Great Chamber?
-The Great Chamber at Hardwick Hall is located on the first floor, used for dining, entertaining -The function of the High Great Chamber was the same as the Low Great Chamber but was used for entertaining royalty -This displays the influence of hierarchy at Hardwick Hall
34
How did Bess include references to the Royal Family in the Great Chamber?
-In the High Great Chamber the queen's coat of arms was above the fireplace -This was a display of her loyalty as well as royal power and authority
35
How was the Great Hall used in Medieval times?
-An integral part of the house -It was the centre of the house -Usually two stories high -It was where everyone in the household ate their food
36
How was the Great Hall used in Elizabethan times?
-No longer as important -often used as an entrance room to the house -One story high -Used as a servant's dining and common room
37
What was the Great Hall like at Hardwick?
-incorporated into the entrance -It was designed as a large communal space -on a 90° angle -in the middle of the house, making it more practical and warmer, lets in more light into the house Provides symmetry to the house This is a new design for a Great Hall
38
What were Long galleries?
-not a common feature of a country house before the Elizabethan period -created as a place to walk when the weather was poor -opened or closed so they could be used in the winter or the summer months
39
What was the long gallery like at Hardwick?
-Takes up the majority of the top floor, runs down the whole east side of the house -Provides views of the gardens and local landscape -Displays artwork: paintings of the family, royalty and the ancestors, tapestries, sculptures -provides an excellent example of the fashionable plasterwork of the Elizabethan period, created by Abraham Smith
40
What artwork did Bess collect?
-By 1601, Bess had collected around 97 paintings
41
What was the significance of Bess' paintings?
-provided a message that Bess used in her decorating -Paintings of her family were alongside those of Queen Elizabeth I, William Cecil and the Virgin Mary -Bess chose to display paintings of Elizabeth I to represent the queen's power and authority -The paintings chosen by Bess were symbolic -demonstrate Bess’ influence and power during this period
42
What was the Blue Room?
-during the Elizabethan period was known as the ‘Pearl Bedchamber’ -a private bedroom on the first floor, also known as the family floor -This floor was less grand and more comfortable than the rooms on the second floor
43
What typical Elizabethan features did the Blue Room contain?
-A four-poster bed, embroidered with silver, gold and pearls showing the wealth of the Gentry during the Elizabethan period -Brussels tapestries, told the story of Tobias and the Angel which was a story that Bess enjoyed -A stone overmantel, portrayed a religious scene from the Book of Tobit
44
What was the purpose of the Blue Room?
-Eating, playing games and cards, reading, relaxing -demonstrated the change that houses went through during the Elizabethan period -These homes were no longer created for protection but for relaxation and socialising
45
What was the Chapel used for?
-The upper part was reserved for family, the lower part was used by the household -demonstrates how hierarchy is displayed at Hardwick Hall Bess wanted a private place to worship, Elizabeth I did this at Hampton Court -showed Bess’ influence and power as she wanted to be compared to Elizabeth I
46
What were staircases like before the Elizabethan period?
-Were throughout the house -Used by everyone
47
How did staircases change during the Elizabethan period?
-became a main feature of a house -Elizabethans used timber and stone framework which allowed for elaborate decoration
48
How did the grand staircase at Hardwick Hall show a new fashion in Elizabethan houses?
The staircase at Hardwick Hall features: -A wide stone staircase -Tapestries lining the walls -provides a grand processional route from the entrance hall to the Great High Chamber -Servants were not permitted to use these staircases unless instructed, the back staircases were created for the servants -Sometimes, the family were not allowed to use them if royalty were at the house
49
What was significant about the stonework at Hardwick Hall?
-Much of the interior and exterior masonry work at Hardwick Hall was completed by John and Christopher Rhodes -Flemish ornament stonework is shown in the crests on the towers and Bess’ initials on the towers - “E.S”
50
What was the significance of marble at Hardwick?
-Thomas Accres created the marble work at Hardwick Hall -Many of the fireplaces at Hardwick Hall were made out of marble, i.e. the fireplace in the High Great Chamber -These fireplaces offered more warmth and comfort -They demonstrate the popular Renaissance style of the time as they are symmetrical and mathematically proportionate
51
What was the significance of woodwork at Hardwick?
-The woodwork at Hardwick Hall was based on Flemish patterns, were very fashionable at the time -However, unlike many houses of this period, Bess preferred to use textiles rather than wood panelling to decorate her house
52
What does the use of these materials demonstrate?
-The increase in wealth of the gentry -The availability of new materials in Elizabethan country homes
53
What was the furniture like at Hardwick Hall?
-Practical and enjoyable, used to demonstrate wealth and status -However, Bess was sensible with her money, she would refurbish old pieces and only buy new ones when necessary -Largely French or made at Hardwick -Rooms with a higher status had French furniture -Rooms used every day were furnished with furniture made at Hardwick
54
How were beds used at Hardwick?
Beds displayed wealth, taste and social status The best rooms at Hardwick Hall had gilded beds
55
How were Tapestries used at Hardwick?
-Used to decorate walls -Some were of a Flemish design -Bess used tapestries to show the hierarchy in different rooms, silk and metal-threaded tapestries were in the high-status rooms, woollen tapestries were in low-status rooms -Two tapestries in the long gallery were brought second-hand from the Hatton family. Bess paid £300.00 for them -Some of her tapestries were religiously symbolic, which was very fashionable at the time
56
How were carpets used at Hardwick?
-Bess had one of the largest collections of carpets in Elizabeth England, mainly Turkish carpets -They were used under certain pieces of furniture to show their status
57
What does Bess' use of furniture demonstrate?
-The increase of wealth amongst the gentry throughout Elizabeth’s reign -The influence of Renaissance designs on builders and the gentry in England -How new materials were used at Hardwick Hall

History Elizabeth (4 decks)

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