After having an animated chat with the gentleman seated beside me, a frequent attendee of the Off the Shelf festival, it was clear that historian Lucy Worsley was 2025’s most popular speaker. Organised by the University of Sheffield, this annual literary festival has boasted writers on the level of Stephen Fry and Simon Armitage- this year, Worsley’s talk was the perfect conclusion to another very successful event.
Centred on Derbyshire’s Bolsover Castle, Worsley led us on a tale of architecture, horses, and debauchery. The singular owner, William Cavendish, inherited the castle in 1617, choosing to brandish his passion for design amongst its many rooms and gardens. A known gentleman, and associated with both King Charles I and Charles II, his rather risqué designs at Bolsover contributed to the rejection of his most anticipated role- Horseman of the Royal Household. Notably the first Duke of Newcastle, he is perhaps more excitably remembered as the grandson of local legend Bess of Hardwick. To Lucy Worsley, however, he is more importantly the man who inspired her PhD thesis, and led her very popular book- Cavalier: The Story of a 17th Century Playboy.
Moving on to Worsley’s own performance, the palpable, expectant energy of the audience was not disappointed. Her presence was confident, self-possessed and strikingly comedic in tone. Her energy provided an accessible and interesting leeway into 17th-century history, and the story of this rather peculiar character. Her passion was inherent in her jovial tone of voice and vivacious gestures. Captivating us with humorous anecdotes, and visual aids of Cavendish’s rather bawdy architectural designs, Worsley’s audience did not last five minutes before bubbling over with laughter. Her most memorable story recounted his rather awkward encounter at the Battle of Marson Moor; the esteemed owner of Bolsover Castle was taking a seemingly convenient cigarette break as Oliver Cromwell came battling triumphantly towards the Royalists in 1644. It was moments such as this that truly excited my curiosity. Worsley’s ability to afford such remarkable humanity to those long dead is nothing short of genius! She created an atmosphere that balanced relatability and comedy, with the dark and brooding moments of history. No set of eyes left the stage of which she presided over with such mastery.
It was Lucy Worsley’s overarching magnetic story-telling ability that surpassed all other elements of the performance. While the history of Bolsover Castle was engaging, I gather this may be attributed to the handling of the subject matter by Lucy herself. It was her stardom as BBC presenter and acclaimed author that truly inspired the sold-out floor, as opposed to any major interest in the Derbyshire fortress. Notwithstanding, I came away with a newfound interest and wish to visit Bolsover Castle, as well as a desire to delve deeper into Worsley’s works on the BBC. I know what I’ll be doing tonight!
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
