Hardwick New Hall plans

The plans reveal how bold Robert Smythson's concept for Bess's new house was. The rooms shown on the plan were used in this way after Bess's time. She had an apartment on second floor, with bedchamber and dining chamber and a bedchamber for her grand-daughter, Arabella Stuart. The winding staircase led to the top-floor state rooms, where the bold projections on the plan allowed visitors to admire Bess's estate from every compass point.