Bolsover Castle

Bolsover Castle stands on high ground above the town of Old Bolsover in north-east Derbyshire. The present building was begun in 1612 by Sir Charles Cavendish on the remains of a 12th-century castle built by the Peverel family. The medieval castle passed through royal hands and was slighted during the reign of King John. After 1223 repairs and additions were paid for by the Crown, but by 1290 the site was let to local farmers who allowed it to decay. The Cavendish family bought the ruins in 1590 and Sir Charles, working with the architect Robert Smythson, created a new house designed for elegant living rather than defence. His sons finished the ‘Little Castle’ in 1621 and in 1634 Ben Jonson’s masque Love’s Welcome was performed there for a royal visit. During the Civil Wars the Parliamentarians slighted the castle again, but William Cavendish rebuilt it as a grand residence in the 17th century. Visitors walk through the restored Terrace Range with its new hall and staterooms. The ‘Little Castle’ rises at the centre with its elaborate interiors and rooftop prospect. Below, the curtain walls and towers of the medieval castle outline the older site. The castle is now cared for by English Heritage and is recognised as a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.