Listed Building: THE HUNTING TOWER (1372877)

Look-out or hunting tower, also known as The Stand. c1582, possibly by Robert Smythson. Coursed squared sandstone with ashlar dressings. Lead roofs. Square in plan with circular angle turrets. Three storeys, the turrets rising to four storeys. Chamfered plinth. Moulded first and second floor sill bands and a pair of moulded bands defining the parapet. Moulded cornices to the turrets which have domed roofs. The corner turrets have paired cavetto moulded stone cross windows to first, second and third floor, except the south west turret which has them only to the top, as it contains the staircase, which is lit by two small square windows with recessed and chamfered surrounds. To the south a broad flight of nine stone steps leads up to the entrance which has flat arch, stop moulded surround and hoodmould. Half-glazed door. Cross window above and above again. To the north and east are three tiers of similar cross windows. Some plainly chamfered. To the west are two single light transomed windows with recessed and chamfered surrounds, to the first and second floors. In addition the north and west sides have a blind 2-light recessed and chamfered mullion window to the basement. To the east are steps down to a basement entrance. Small rectangular windows to the lower stages of the towers. All the windows have diamond leaded lights. Interior: Ashlar chimneypiece to the ground floor room may be C16. Similar but plainer one above and above again. Spiral stone staircase. The turrets have domed ceilings with moulded decorative plasterwork, probably by Abraham Smith. Sources: Mark Girouard Elizabethan Chatsworth. Country Life 22 November 1973, pp 1668-1672. The Gardens and Park are included on the Gardens Register at Grade I. Listing NGR: SK2650070627