Not everything is perfect; these things are awaiting refurbishing. It's apparently really hard to deal with multi-century-aged tapestries. Tis why we're here: many titled landowners have opened their fine houses to gain the revenue so as to have the money to keep their places (and things) up.
I do wish they'd do away with half the furniture in this hallway, put all the tapestries on one wall, and let us actually get a good look at the tapestries (walking through the hall, roped off, of course).
Chatsworth House, 30 Aug 2008