A radical intervention

Hardwick Old Hall was built between 1587 and 1597, immediately alongside the renowned Hardwick Hall. Bess of Hardwick, a leading figure in Elizabethan society, commissioned both. The Old Hall is a remarkable case study for understanding late 16th-century construction techniques as well as the architectural innovations that were used on Bess’s new Hardwick Hall, widely recognised as a pioneering example of the early Renaissance style in England.

In the 1750s the site was dismantled to provide stone for nearby Chatsworth House and further stripped of materials in the 19th century until it transformed into the picturesque ruin we know today. Despite extensive conservation carried out by SPAB in 1912 and later by the Ministry of Works in the 1950, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, the site had been to be closed to the public for three years due to falling masonry. We led a team to secure the ruin so that it is once again safe for visitors.

Radical conservation for a sustainable future

The brief was to apply Sustainable Conservation Principles to the repair works across the site under English Heritage’s Sustainable Conservation Strategy & Asset Management Plan (SCAMP) aimed at bringing property maintenance into a steady state. The main objectives were, therefore, to arrest decay and the site safe and minimise future maintenance.

The condition survey revealed stone decay, failed mortar, rusting metal, rotting timber, failing decorative plaster, failing gypsum floors, vegetation growth, roosting bats, saturated ground and salt movement. Significant measures were introduced to address the compromised fabric, including new enlarged lead canopy hoods over the decorative plaster to the Great Hill Chamber, new timber to the 1990s viewing platform, replacing timber lintels, and rebuilding chimneys. Defrassing, pinning, indents or full replacement was favoured for failing stone rather than shelter coats or mortar repairs to ensure longevity.

The most radical intervention was the reinstatement of the external lime render (or harl) to the west elevation. It provides structural support and reduces the impact of water on the internal plasters. It acts as a sacrificial layer – designed to protect the historic fabric for decades with no maintenance required, reducing both cost and environmental impact. Though visually radical, the intervention demonstrates how a clear move away from expensive regular repair can be achieved sensitively and sustainably while respecting the significance of the historic fabric.