CASTLES DERBY

Elvaston Castle Country Park encompasses 321 acres of parkland and woodland near Derby, centred around a striking Gothic Revival mansion designed by architect James Wyatt in the early 1800s. Built for the third Earl of Harrington and based on an earlier 1633 house, the castle itself remains private but the estate opened to the public in 1970 as one of England's pioneering country parks. The grounds showcase elaborate Victorian landscape design, including fine rockwork structures, extensive topiary introduced by 19th-century designer William Barron, a Moorish temple and decorative ha-ha wall. Both buildings and gardens are Grade 2 and Grade 2* listed structures of special architectural and historical interest. Today attracting around 350,000 visitors annually, the park offers accessible exploration of historical design principles and remains a beloved destination for families and heritage enthusiasts.

Mackworth Castle, located near Derby in Derbyshire, is a Grade I listed building and scheduled ancient monument comprising a square, heavily battlemented gatehouse originally built before 1500. Dating to the 14th or 15th century, the gatehouse was intended as the entrance to a grand castle for the prominent Mackworth family, though the castle itself was never completed. The family later moved to their inherited estate in Rutland in 1655-1656 when the property was sold to Sir John Curzon. The gatehouse remains a striking example of Tudor-era military architecture and gained fame when it served as a filming location for the 1954 movie "The Black Shield of Falworth" starring Tony Curtis.