Bess of Hardwick rose from humble beginnings to become the second most powerful woman in the country behind Queen Elizabeth I. He also learns about Bess’ granddaughter, Arbella Stuart, who ended up imprisoned in the Tower of London. Meanwhile, Peter Purves heads to Oxburgh Hall in Norfolk to cast his eye over embroidered hangings created by Bess and Mary Queen of Scots while the latter was imprisoned at Chatsworth – another of Bess’ famous houses.

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