The campaign to restore the Grade 1 Listed Cascade is receiving tremendous support from Friends, supporters, local businesses, trusts, foundations and, of course, The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Our fundraising campaign for the restoration and outreach and engagement programme has an ambitious target of £7.3 million. We are delighted to report that we are now over 90% of the way there and we are working very hard to raise the remaining funds required to complete the project. If you would like to support the campaign, we would love to hear from you as we move towards its final phase.
And as part of the campaign, Chatsworth House Trust launched its first ever public fundraising appeal to encourage donations from people who love the Cascade. The response to this has been fantastic and all of us have been moved by the words of encouragement and generous donations we have received.
More than £200,000 has now been raised from 1,782 individual donations. The sponsorship of stones in the Cascade has proved incredibly popular with 825 stones being sponsored. There was a flurry of stone sponsorship over the last three months with many people sponsoring stones for Christmas and birthday presents, to give to loved ones or to commemorate important occasions.
There are a limited number of stones in the Cascade which can be sponsored for donations of £100, £250 or £500. Donors receive a beautiful certificate to commemorate their gift. The names of all sponsors will be added to the Cascade Restoration Honour Roll which will be deposited in the historic Devonshire Archives at Chatsworth. In addition, the names of donors are being recorded on a thank you board in the Old Duke’s Greenhouse next to the Rose Garden for the duration of the restoration.
Many people have been sponsoring multiple stones. One couple has sponsored a stone in each of the 23 steps and many families have sponsored rows of ten stones going across the Cascade so that three family generations can be recorded together. Others have chosen specific stones where the stone and step number have special significance such as a regimental number or a lucky number. Steps 19 and 20 still have many stones available which means that you could sponsor the year when you were born!
Our youngest supporter is 8 years old and our oldest is a 93 year old who has been visiting Chatsworth for over 75 years. The reasons for donating have been very moving, demonstrating just how much the Cascade means to so many people. Donations have come from throughout the UK and all over the world. The love of the Cascade really does have a global reach. We have also received generous support from so many different groups including 16 local businesses, from the Red Socks (who volunteer at the Country Fair) and even a group of Girl Guides.
Work on the restoration will start in the Spring of 2026 and take approximately two years to complete.
Please join the growing number of supporters by sponsoring a stone in your name or that of a loved one. By sponsoring a stone, you too can help us bring the Cascade back to life.
