On this day in history, 4th May 1608, the funeral of Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury, took place at All Hallows, Derby.
Bess of Hardwick as she is commonly known, was the daughter of John Hardwick and Elizabeth Leake.
She married four times and each marriage saw her rise in status and wealth. Her husbands were heir to an estate Robert Barley or Barlowe, Treasurer of the King’s Chamber Sir William Cavendish, Captain of the Guard and Chief Butler of England Sir William St Loe, and George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury.
Her grandchildren included the ill-fated Lady Arbella Stuart.
Bess became was one of the richest people in England and she built Hardwick Hall, Oldcotes, and Chatsworth. She died on 13th February 1608.
Find out more about her in this video...
Also on this day in Tudor history...
Image: Bess of Hardwick, Countess of Shrewsbury, by Rowland Lockey, 1592.
Leave a Reply