The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA) has announced that its original documentary Chatsworth Through Time will be released on public television stations across the United States in August 2026. The film offers an in-depth exploration of Chatsworth, an estate in England's Peak District National Park that has been home to the Devonshire family for five centuries.
According to the ICAA, the documentary examines how successive Dukes and Duchesses of Devonshire renovated and expanded the house to reflect political developments, social changes, and evolving architectural styles. Hosted by Chatsworth's senior curators, the program traces the estate's history from the Tudor period through the 21st century, culminating in an extended interview with the current Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.
The film features unprecedented access to Chatsworth's architecture, fine craftsmanship, and rare artworks accumulated over seventeen generations. 'It was an honor at the ICAA to work with the Chatsworth House Trust, providing a unique opportunity to thoroughly explore the story of a house rich in architectural and artistic history,' said ICAA president Peter Lyden in the announcement. 'By opening the house's archives and hearing directly from the Duke of Devonshire, Chatsworth Through Time provides unprecedented insight into the legendary estate.'
Chatsworth is a registered charity managed by the Chatsworth House Trust, which is dedicated to preserving the house, collections, garden, and parkland for the public. The estate comprises a Grade I listed house and stables, a 105-acre garden, a 1,822-acre park, a farmyard, and one of Europe's most significant private art collections. Visitor income funds conservation and an ambitious program of exhibitions, events, learning, and community outreach.
The documentary will be distributed by American Public Television (APT), a leading syndicator of programming to public television stations nationwide. APT's catalog includes popular titles such as Rick Steves' Europe, Samantha Brown's Places to Love, and America's Test Kitchen. Viewers can check local listings for broadcast times on their local public television stations, such as Connecticut Public Television (CPTV), which serves more than 1.2 million people weekly across Connecticut.
The ICAA, a nonprofit membership organization headquartered in New York City, aims to advance the appreciation and practice of traditional architecture and its allied arts. The institute offers classes, travel programs, lectures, awards, and conferences, and publishes the academic journal Classicist and the book series Classical America Series in Art and Architecture. It also produces the documentary film series Design in Mind and the biweekly content series World of Classicism, which includes articles, short films, online courses, and a podcast.
For more information about Chatsworth, visit www.chatsworth.org. Details about APT and its programming can be found at APToneline.org.
