The Grotto is built of massive boulders and contains a rectangular room decorated with stalactites (unfortunately this is not open to visitors); this is surmounted by a rustic timber bandstand with a conical slate roof.
The Grotto Pond was probably constructed at a similar time to Morton’s Pond (1700) and was designed to supply the new Canal Pond.
In 1992 the overflow from the stream leaving the Grotto Pond was turned into a water feature, the ‘Trough Waterfall’, using a series of stone drinking troughs gathered from the nearby fields and farm steadings.
Originally, Morton Pond was called the Great Fountain Pond referring to its function as the supply pond for the 1st Duke’s Great Fountain in the Canal Pond. When the Emperor Fountain was constructed, the pipe from Morton Pond to the 1st Duke’s Great Fountain became defunct, but still exists. Duchess Deborah describes Morton Pond as ‘the least known place in the garden, where you can sit alone by the water on the on the busiest Bank Holiday’.
The Drummer (1989-90) by Barry Flanagan is situated at the north end of the Grotto Pond and was acquired by the present Duke and Duchess to commemorate their coming to live at Chatsworth in 2006.
Discover more from the early history of the garden
Salisbury Lawns
The creation of the Salisbury Lawns and the removal of the old formal gardens occurred prior to the arrival of Lancelot 'Capability' Brown at Chatsworth in 1758, most likely in the 1730s.
Canal Pond and Great Fountain
The Canal Pond was dug between 1702 and 1703. It is set a few inches higher than the South Lawn, so when it is viewed from the south end of the pond, the house appears to rise from the water.
Cascade
The original cascade, designed Monsieur Grillet, a French hydraulics engineer with experience in decorative waterworks for Louis XIV of France, took two years to build and was completed in 1696.
The Old Glasshouse
The Old Glasshouse, built in the 1690s, is a long, low building with ten arched windows and is shown in Kip and Kynff’s 1699 view of the garden.
Flora's Temple
Originally called the Bowling Green House, Flora’s Temple was built between 1693 and 1695.
Ring Pond
The Ring Pond is a survivor from the 17th century gardens. It originally lay in the middle of a formal plantation of trees, with the Willow Tree Fountain at its centre.
South Lawn and Seahorse Fountain
The south parterre began construction in 1694 under the guidance of George London and Henry Wise, who also worked at Hampton Court Palace. The parterre was a pattern of intricate flower beds, hedges and gravel paths.
Discover the 6th Duke's Garden
The 6th Duke, working with renowned gardener Joseph Paxton, made radical and pioneering changes to the Chatsworth Garden and Estate.
Learn about the Modern Garden
In the last 100 years, many of the historic features of the garden have been restored and numerous important new features have been added.
