Together We Can
Turn It Back On
The Cascade
The Cascade at Chatsworth has been the centrepiece of the garden for over 300 years. Built in the 1690s to great wonder and amazement, the Cascade was an engineering feat of its time. It is now cared for by Chatsworth House Trust and remains one of the most loved features of the garden.
Unfortunately, centuries of use have weakened the Cascade and serious water leakage through the stones has put it at significant structural risk. To prevent further deterioration, the Cascade has been turned off and the water will not flow for the foreseeable future.
Chatsworth House Trust now needs to undertake a major restoration project to preserve and safeguard the Cascade for future generations.
Donate TodayLoved By All
The Cascade has delighted visitors for generations. Families come to play and picnic next to it and many visitors recall fond memories of childhood encounters. For many the Cascade is a cherished feature of the garden at Chatsworth.
As a charity, we aim to have a positive impact on people's lives. Alongside the restoration, we will work with schools and local charities to design learning programmes and promote the health and wellbeing benefits of being in nature. We will encourage new visitors to visit the garden - particularly those who may not think of Chatsworth as a place for them - and we will tell the stories of the Cascade's history, ingenuity and people.
This is a major project for Chatsworth House Trust and a significant moment in the story of the Cascade at Chatsworth.
We Need
Your Support
Join us and become part of this inspiring chapter in the Cascade's history.
The total project cost is estimated to be £7.3 million. We will be applying to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for just under £5 million but, to help secure this, Chatsworth House Trust needs to raise the shortfall. We have launched a public fundraising campaign and aim to raise £250,000 from our Friends and visitors towards this goal.
By donating today, your support will have a positive impact on many thousands of visitors for years to come. Thank you.
Your Support Makes A Difference
Every donation, no matter how large or small will be received with gratitude and will help us restore the Cascade.
A Piece of Chatsworth
By donating £100 or more, you can sponsor a stone and receive special recognition.
Sponsor a stone
Piece
By Piece
This is a major project for Chatsworth House Trust and a significant moment in the story of the Cascade at Chatsworth.
The Cascade's Origins
Always a popular feature at Chatsworth, the Cascade was a celebrated feature of the 1st Duke’s Garden. Over the centuries, the Cascade has undergone many changes: some due to evolving tastes and fashions, others through necessity.
Read more
Celebrating The Cascade Project
In 2023, Chatsworth House Trust was awarded £422,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help kick start the project. To assess the full extent of the damage beneath the Cascade, we have conducted exploratory work and archaeological and archival research. We will be undertaking laser scans and hydraulic and ecological surveys to understand its state of disrepair.
Read moreThe Water Artery
The Cascade story sits as the centrepiece of a complex ‘water artery’ running from the moors to the Derwent River. Sustainability and the environment are central to Chatsworth’s story. Today, this water artery also provides a supply for watering the garden, flushing the toilets and powering the fire-hydrant system.
Read more
Piece
By Piece
This is a major project for Chatsworth House Trust and a significant moment in the story of the Cascade at Chatsworth.
The Cascade's Origins
Always a popular feature at Chatsworth, the Cascade was a celebrated feature of the 1st Duke’s Garden. Over the centuries, the Cascade has undergone many changes: some due to evolving tastes and fashions, others through necessity.
Read moreCelebrating the Cascade Project
In 2023, Chatsworth House Trust was awarded £422,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help kick start the project. To assess the full extent of the damage beneath the Cascade, we have conducted exploratory work and archaeological and archival research. We will be undertaking laser scans and hydraulic and ecological surveys to understand its state of disrepair.
Read more
The Water Artery
The Cascade story sits as the centrepiece of a complex ‘water artery’ running from the moors to the Derwent River. Sustainability and the environment are central to Chatsworth’s story. Today, this water artery also provides a supply for watering the garden, flushing the toilets and powering the fire-hydrant system.
Read moreCascade Stories
Celebrating the CASCADE
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