The last house on our Derbyshire house tour was the Hardwick Estate, one of the two houses built by Elizabeth of Shrewsbury (1527-1608), who was a true Boss Lady and the second richest woman in England after Queen Elizabeth I.

I love her story.  Back in the days when it was common for men to marry, see their wives perish in childbirth and then remarry again, Bess was the exception.  She outlived all four of her husbands, and she grew her accumulated wealth wisely. She gave birth to eight children, with six surviving to adulthood.

She was also the force behind the building of Chatsworth House and Hardwick Hall, two of the grandest houses in Derbyshire.  “Hardwick Hall, more glass than wall” was the rhyme coined about this house and one look tells you why. Hardwick Hall’s walls are filled with windows in a time when glass was ridiculously expensive. Atop its six turrets are the letters E S, standing for Elizabeth of Shrewsbury. Respect.

Bess’ life grew more complicated when she and her fourth husband George Talbot, the Earl of Shrewsbury, were told by Queen Elizabeth I that they were to keep Mary, Queen of Scots under house arrest in one of their many homes, including Chatsworth. They were also expected to underwrite this project. They did so for 15 years, from 1569-1584. Mary was a young, beautiful, manipulative woman and she used her wiles to come between Bess and her husband, leading to their separation. Mary was subsequently moved into the care of another courtier, and Mary's continued personal and political intrigues led to her execution three years later.

No shrinking violet, Bess was a force to be reckoned with and went to court more than once to ensure that her inheritances were protected. And after she successfully defended her right to inherit lands and money from the estate of her fourth husband George Talbot, the sixth Earl of Shrewsbury, she began construction on Hardwick Hall. (She had previously built Chatsworth when married to Sir William St Loe.)

Hardwick Hall stands as a monument to Bess and her power, her tenacity, and her acumen in a time when women had few rights.  She also ensured that her six children would be well-situated. She arranged a marriage between her daughter Arbella and Charles Stuart, a man with links to both the Scottish and English thrones.

Bess died at Hardwick Hall in 1608 at the age of 87. Hers was a momentous life very well lived, and her home is one of the most magnificent in Derbyshire.