Chatsworth Documentary

I'll be glued to the first episode of BBC One's new documentary series Chatsworth at 9pm this evening on high definition.

For the first time ever, the palatial Chatsworth House in Derbyshire has opened its doors to the cameras for a whole year. It is a unique opportunity to take an in-depth glimpse of life upstairs and downstairs in the 21st century.

The first programme joins the 12th Duke and Duchess of Devonshire as the house is being prepared to open to the public.

Chatsworth's farm shop is managed by Andre Birkett, who has worked for the family his whole life, starting in the kitchens of the house. He is now responsible for 120 staff and an annual turnover of over five million pounds.

As winter turns to spring it is lambing season on the estate's 62 farms. The farm manager, Ian Turner, who has 32 years service under his belt, takes us on a tour of the farm, where we get to see first-hand a sheep adopting a rejected lamb.

For four and a half centuries Chatsworth has been owned by the Cavendishes.

Many, if not most, of the great country estates of Northern Ireland are open to visitors, with few notable exceptions. 

Access is available in the form of events, occasional house tours, tea-rooms, gardens, functions, accommodation or shoots.

I am, however, aware of one historic country house and estate in east County Antrim which shan't even countenance photographs!