Heritage > Historic Houses

Chatsworth

The Oak Room

This is certainly the oddest room in the house. The oak panelling and carved heads are from a German monastery and were bought by the 6th Duke on an impulse, having been tempted into an auction room in Berners Street, London. Before it was altered, this room contained some of the 12,000 volumes of the library of Henry Cavendish (1731-1810) the scientist. The opening from the Chapel was made in 1960, to ease the circulation of summer visitors.

Many of the smaller pieces of oriental china in the collection are in the cupboards round the room. Inset into the panelling between the windows arew paintings of some of the 6th Dukes favourite dogs.

The 6th Duke gives his own account (1844) of the various uses to which this room was put: "It was the dormitory of poor Dicky Smith, the Chaplain; and to this room I remember banishing the learned Parr, when he insisted on having a room to smoke in - a desire then (1813) considered most atrocious and derogatory. Of late years, when family prayers have been read this has been the suitable place for them; and when the Grand Duke Michael Paulowitsch arrived on a vist last year at a very late hour here he had the gayest looking supper which contrasted agreeably with the dingy walls, and looked like a jolly friars repast".

A Picture of the 'Oak Room'


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