Elizabethan England, 1568-1603

Year 11 History Mock Exam Elizabethan country houses Who were the Elizabethan gentry? Our historic site for the 16 mark ‘Elizabethan England, 1568-1603’ - How could the gentry afford such homes? By the 1590’s there had been a rise in question is Hardwick Hall in members of society who classed themselves as Derbyshire. Built between 1590 the gentry. They were different to the and 1597 by Elizabeth Shrewsbury nobility as they hadn’t been born into wealth (more commonly known as Bess of and money. These were people who had made a Hardwick) it was one of the

successful career from trade and had become grandest houses in Elizabethan very wealthy as a consequence. They began to England and used by Bess to show fill powerful positions by becoming members her great wealth and position in

of Parliament and Justices of the Peace. society.

Hardwick Hall – Four Key Rooms!

The Great Built on the ground floor and different to other houses in that it ran Hall throughout the house from front to back instead of lying across the width of the house. These new style halls were warmer and less smoky. They also allowed a staircase to connect the ground floor to the upper floors.

The Long Placed on the top floor of the house, this was once the longest gallery in Gallery England. Used for entertaining guests at balls and dinners as well as exercise in the winter. Plenty of natural light was allowed in due to the amount of windows at Hardwick (‘more glass than wall’)

The Where Bess would entertain guests after their meal. The ceilings again, Withdrawing would have been very high in order to impress people. The expensive oak Chamber wall panelling and furniture would again have been placed there to impress Bess’ guests with her wealth and status.

The High Bess’ area for welcoming guests. The room would have had paintings of Great Queen Elizabeth as well as the Queen’s coat of arms to show Bess’ loyalty Bess of Hardwick - Timeline Chamber to her. This room could only be accessed from stairs leading from the Great Hall, this separated Bess from the rest of the household.

1565 – Bess’ third 1567 - Bess marries the Earl of 1590 – Earl of Shrewsbury 1527 - Bess of 1557 – Bess’ second husband dies Shrewsbury dies Hardwick born husband dies Sir William St Loe, a Bess became part of the nobility and Bess’ fourth husband dies Bess was born into a Sir William Cavendish favourite of the Queen became Countess. She arranged the and Bess is granted 1/3 gentry family but rose dies leaving Bess his dies. The marriage to marriage of her daughter, Elizabeth to become the second fortune (they had of his income from his St Loe gave Bess a to Charles Stuart, Mary Queen of richest woman in married in 1547). She huge estates. She begins place at court and Scots cousin – any children they England behind becomes a very rich the building of Hardwick after his death she had would be heir to the throne. Elizabeth. woman. Hall the same year. inherits his fortune. Queen Elizabeth was outraged!