Queen Marys Bower

Queen Mary's Bower is a 16th-century raised garden with a moat, believed to be located on the site of an ancient earthwork. It was restored in the early 19th century by Wyatville. The structure is made of coursed squared sandstone and ashlar and is square in plan. It features plain walls that enclose the raised garden, with a parapet that has a moulded stringcourse at its base and another stringcourse above. The parapet includes decorative balustrades at intervals and has low semi-circular projections on two sides.

To the south, there is a large flight of stone steps leading over a segmental-pointed arched bridge, flanked by stepped parapet walls. These steps lead up to a three-sided entrance feature, which has blind round-arches on the west and east sides and a plain flat-arched entrance on the north side. Above the entrance is a shield, and there is a moulded stringcourse. The entire structure is surrounded by a quatrefoil moat with a low coped retaining wall. It is reported that this bower was built for Mary Queen of Scots to enjoy the outdoors during her captivity at Chatsworth in the 1570s. The Gardens and Park surrounding it are listed on the Gardens Register at Grade I.