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Elvaston Castle and Country Park, Derbyshire
Author: Ian Hurst Orders of the day, Volume 31, Issue 4, 1999
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The Stanhopes of Elvaston Castle, Derbyshire
The Stanhopes first came to Elvaston in Derbyshire in the sixteenth century, when Henry VIII granted to Michael Stanhope the Lordship of the Manor of Elvaston. Knighted soon after Edward Vl’s accession to the throne, Sir Michael was the first of the Stanhopes to make his home at Elvaston. Sir Michael’s grandson, John Stanhope of Shelford and Elvaston, was knighted in 1603, but died in 1610. He was buried at Elvaston and the great estate was divided between his two sons Philip and John after their father’s death. While John retained Elvaston, Philip made his home at Bretby Park. At the start of Civil War the Stanhopes sided with the crown; Philip Stanhope raising a regiment of dragoons for the King and was rewarded with the Earldom of Chesterfield. The Derby forces for Parliament came under the command of Sir John Gell, who with Lord Grey of Leicestershire concentrated their forces in the Midlands to try and keep the royalist threat to a minimum. Both Bretby Park and Elvaston Castle were attacked. The Parliamentarian soldiery ransacked the manor house in search of arms, destroyed Lady Stanhope’s favourite flower garden and then stormed the church. There they defaced the monuments, damaging the newly erected tomb of Sir John Stanhope, before entering the family vault where they thrust their swords into the coffins. Sir John’s tomb was restored over a century later, but today still bears the marks of the original damage, while on the outside walls of the church the pit marks left by volleys of musket balls are still clearly visible. Sources
Today Elvaston Castle and Country Park is open to the public all year. First built in 1633, part of the original house still stands with its later works. It has a boating lake, formal gardens and woodland walks. There is also a horse riding centre, site shop and tea rooms. It is located six miles off the MI at J24. |
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