Firstly, we went on a tour around Hardwick Hall, exploring and seeing the history of Bess of Hardwick and her house. We went around all the rooms, learning about Elizabethan life and seeing how the wealthy lived. The tour guides were very helpful and told us information about Bess and the house; such as the blue room being the most haunted in the house and the windows costing half the price of the house! Also, her love for tapestry was shown throughout the house, and it demonstrated her knowledge, education and wealth by showing classical and mythical figures and women of power. We then ventured through the impressive gardens, with acres of land, an orchard and many spectacular statues which helped create the atmosphere of the Elizabethan era and allowed us to imagine what Bess’ life was like. Bess was an inspiring business woman and friend of Queen Elizabeth I, and she owned all the material businesses that built her house. As you drove in, you could see the ruins of her old family home and even though the structure was gone, you could still sense the character of the building. Overall, the trip was insightful and interesting, and the National Trust has kept the life of the building from hundreds of years ago, preserving the old artefacts. The staff were very helpful in answering any and all questions we had to ask and made the trip very educational. 

Eliana, Ellie, Emily, Autumn