England 03.05 Pt 2

We entered the rock garden and paused. As you would expect of a rock garden there are rocks, small rocks big rocks and even bigger rocks. The thought of of a rock garden doesn't appeal to me but I was impressed.

The buggy driver stopped a number of times along the way to get out and speak to us directly. He was terrific. There were quite a number of facts and figures but this one stuck in my head, the number of gardeners at Chatsworth. Online figues don't agree with what the guide told us, but he said it is forty full time paid gardeners and sixty volunteer gardeners. There is a waiting list if you want to be a volunteer gardener at Chatsworth. But forty full full time paid gardeners gives you an idea of the running costs of the estate. 

Beauty just abounded. 

Margaret guessed why you should keep the name family name Cavendish in mind. In the western world if you just want a banana from a supermarket, a green grocer or a market it is almost certain you will buy a Cavendish banana. There other kinds of bananas to buy at times, sugar bananas, Lady Finger bananas. But your average basic banana is a Cavendish, originally bred right here in the Chatsworth greenhouses. All Cavendish bananas can be traced back to Chatsworth. I've only ever half noticed the name Cavendish on bananas and now I am seeing it everywhere. I had no idea and I was amazed to hear this.

The greenhouse wasn't open to the public when we were there.

This aircraft turbine was made by apprentices at the nearby Rolls Royce factory and presented to the Chatsworth estate.

Outside the the estate walls are the stables and another cafe.

So there you go, Chatsworth House and it surrounding parkland. I was super impressed. I haven't delved deeply but its website looks quite slick and functional and there are some lush photos.

Dinner that night was at a pub in the old village. Quite ok.