
Hardwick Hall - National Trust - Derbyshire
Externally, the house with it's symmetrical design is truly 'an Elizabethan masterpiece'. Inside, I find the house somewhat somber, maybe the vast hanging textiles, which are undoubtedly magnificent create a dampening of sound and a weightiness to the rooms that can feel a little oppressive. So the house that locally is known as "Hardwick Hall, more glass than walls" inevitably has its huge windows covered in order to preserve the textiles; which means, when you are inside, you lose the impact of its main architectural feature. It must have been wonderful in the days when the light was allowed to pour in.