aerial photograph of Hardwick Old Hall Derbyshire England UK. Hardwick Old Hall was built by Bess of Hardwick in 1587. Bess was a the wealthiest woman in England following a series of marriages where all her husbands seem to have died and left her all their money. This led to her being an Elizabethan shopping queen and before the Hall was even finished she started building another hall adjacent the old one. Once both Hardwick Halls were completed the old hall was used in conjunction with the new hall. The old hall eventually fell into disuse and ruin in the 18th Century. Today its run by English Heritage for the National Trust and is open to the public.