Bolsover Castle

written by Sophie | Art History

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Bolsover Castle; pleasure castle, occasional home and product of sheer wealth and indulgence. Built by William Cavendish (1592 –  1676), an aristocrat, cavalier and equestrian (he was the most accomplished horseman of his day and wrote and published a groundbreaking treatise on dressage) from 1612 onwards. The building was reworked and added to throughout the 17th century. This little castle was built to impress the king and his fellow aristocrats and used regularly to entertain. William’s main home was Welbeck Abbey, just 5 miles north-east.  There is much to say about William’s fascinating life and the homes he lived in and decorated with paintings and tapestries, but for now, this blog post shows some of the photographs I took while visiting. It is open to the public and wonderfully restored and now owned by English Heritage.

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“Every Mans proper Mansion House and Home, being the Theatre of his Hospitality, the Seate of Selfe-fruition, the Comfortablest part of his own Life, the Noblest of his Sonnes Inheritance, a kinde of private Princedome; Nay, to the Possessors therof, an Epitomie of the whole World: may well deserve by these Attributes, according to the degree of the Master, to be decently and delightfully adorned. “
( Sir Henry Wotton, The Elements of Architecture, published 1624, p. 82.)

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Published August 22, 2015

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    1. Hi Denise, You’re welcome! Really glad you liked it. If you haven’t already I hope you will visit too. Its a timewarp into the 17th century.

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