Looking around the picture perfect village of Edensor today, it's hard to believe it wasn't always nestled in this idyllic location in the midst of rolling countryside in the Peak District.
But this chocolate box village was created entirely by design almost 200-years-ago - when the then lord-of-the-manor decided to demolish the original Edensor village and move it over a hill - so it didn't spoil his view from Chatsworth House across his country estate.
The residents of the original Edensor, pronounced 'Enza', were moved out to other neighbouring villages while an entirely new village was created for them by the 6th Duke of Devonshire in the 1830s.
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Acclaimed architect Sir Joseph Paxton, of Crystal Palace fame, was then tasked with the brief of creating 33 homes of entirely unique designs for the villagers to return to.
So the story goes, Paxton asked the Duke to take a look at an architectural guide of designs for his preferred styles, to which he is said to have replied: "I'll have one of each."
It leaves us today with one of England's most unusual model villages, with an extraordinary hotchpotch of homes, varying in styles from Swiss Cottage to Tudor, Italianate and even turreted mini-castles.
The intriguing architecture has made Edensor a popular tourist destination for those exploring the Derbyshire Dales, with a well-trodden walking route from the village all the way to Bakewell.
And for those visiting the palatial Chatsworth House and gardens, it is around a ten minute walk over the hill from Edensor - out of view of the village of course.
The 'old' village was based on the other side of the River Derwent, in direct view of the stately pile.
Every trace of the old ramshackle village was removed in the 1830s - with only one property spared from the demolition called Gardener's Cottage which remains on what was the old Edensor 'high street'.
No one knows for sure why it was spared, although popular theories are that the Duke did not wish to disturb the elderly tenant that lived there at the time.
The 'new' village is now formed behind estate walls and wrought iron railings painted in the distinctive 'Chatsworth blue' paint, denoting ownership by the estate, and entry is through gates over a cattle grid.
An imposing castellated gate house lodge greets you at the entrance - it was once the village post office.
The sheer beauty of the architecture here in every one of the houses would suggest that the Duke who cared so much about his own view in demolishing the old village, cared just as much about building something beautiful for his tenants in the new village.
To the left of the village gates a simply stunning mansion with Italianate windows and balconies claims one of the best views in the village looking out across the parkland beyond - this was once the village pub The Talbot Inn.
But these days the only village business for visitors to sample is the ever-popular Edensor Tea Cottage, based inside the oldest building in the village in a former farmhouse, with plenty of indoor seating as well as tables in the pretty outdoor courtyard.
The tearooms were recently taken on by husband and wife team Stuart and Sarah Yates who have breathed new life into the venue with an extensive refurbishment and expanded menu boasting hot and cold delicacies, daily changing blackboard specials as well as a full range of freshly baked cakes, traybakes and scones.
You can also sample a local delicacy in the form of Derbyshire oatcakes at the tea cottage.
As the village is still owned by the Chatsworth estate, homes here are rented out to tenants - many of whom still work on the estate - and occasionally a house will come up that people can apply for to rent.
A large property, Moor View, at the hill top end of the village is also available to book for holidaymakers.
For those living inside these picturesque walls, it is a quiet rural life - troubled only by the many cars that try to park on the narrow roads here on weekends and in the summer holidays.
Geoffrey Allen, 83, has been associated with the Chatsworth Estate for some 60 years - having owned the Devonshire Arms pub in neighbouring village of Pilsley, before moving to Edensor in the 1980s with his wife who was a former secretary on the estate.
He said: "We are all very lucky to live here it is a beautiful little village and we all think that.
"Many of the people who live here still work on the estate, some are retired. And of course the lovely thing here is that all the houses are unique.
"There are just two that were designed the same - up near the vicarage - in mirror image."
Geoffrey lives in an apartment in the Devonshire Building opposite the huge village green that greets you on entrance through the gates.
The green was not designed to be quite so large - it had once housed the village school which was demolished in 1950 when deemed no longer needed for the community.
The Kennedy connection
Edensor is also famous for its connections to America's political dynasty the Kennedys.
Kathleen 'Kick' Kennedy, sister to former US president John F Kennedy, moved to Chatsworth when she married Billy Hartington, elder son of the 10th Duke of Devonshire, in May 1944.
Just five weeks after their marriage Billy was deployed with the Coldstream Guards to take part in the Allied Invasion of Europe - and was killed in action in September 1944.
Just four years later Kathleen, then aged 28, was to die in a tragic plane accident, and was buried in the graveyard of St Peter's Church in Edensor.
Her brother JFK visited her grave in June 1963, and a stone next to her grave commemorates that visit.
Just a few months after his visit to Derbyshire, he too was to die in tragic circumstances, assassinated as he drove through cheering crowds in Dallas, Texas, in November 1963.
Edensor is also the final resting place of the architect who so splendidly realised this village - Sir Joseph Paxton.
His grand tomb is in the graveyard, while a memorial tablet adorns a wall inside the church commemorating all of of his remarkable achievements in architecture and at Chatsworth.
For he is also renowned for cultivating the Cavendish banana from the Chatsworth greenhouses - it remains the most consumed banana in the Western world to this day.
How to get there
Edensor village is around 38 miles from Manchester, via the A6 and A623, use sat nav DE45 1PP and the village is on the right as you drive into Chatsworth.
There is a large car park at Chatsworth open daily from 9am to 6pm priced at £5 for the day per car. There is also dedicated blue badge parking at the house car park.
The nearest major train station is Chesterfield, with local bus services needed to connect to Chatsworth.
There are also daily National Express coaches from Manchester that pass through Bakewell.
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