Situated on the outskirts of the charming stone town of Stamford, Burghley House in Lincolnshire is approximately 144 km (90 miles) north of London and well worth a visit.
This huge Elizabethan house stands majestically in the Burghley Park with its classical facades, many chimneys and pyramidal clock tower.
The History of Burghley House
The house was built in the 16th century by William Cecil, the first Lord Burghley (1520-1598), who was the principal Secretary and later Lord Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I. It took 32 years for the entire house to be built, starting with the East range in 1555; William Cecil acted as his own architect.
Burghley’s eldest son, Thomas, was created Earl of Exeter in 1605 and the 10th Earl, Henry, was elevated to the rank of Marquess in 1801; their descendants have lived in Burghley House ever since.
It was during the late 17th century, under the reign of the 5th Earl and his Countess, that Burghley House was transformed into a virtual treasure trove. The couple, who loved to travel and both shared a passion for beautiful things, refurbished the house on an almost royal scale, nearly bankrupting the estate in the process. Luckily, the bulk of their collection remains at Burghley today and includes one of the most important private collections of 17th century Italian paintings in existence.
The Tour of Burghley House
Passing through 18 state rooms, upon the walls of which hang almost 400 paintings, the tour of the house extends for nearly a quarter of a mile, covering only part of the ground and first floors.
Moving along from state room to state room, guests are treated to an exceptional collection of European and Oriental ceramics, tapestries, fine furniture, and other works of art.
While the house boasts a wonderful collection of Old Masters, it is the ceiling and wall paintings in the house, particularly in the Heaven Room and the Hell Staircase, that are the true works of art. Described as Antonio Verrio’s greatest masterpiece, the Heaven Room is decorated with scenes from ancient mythology and is so remarkable in its perspective that it almost appears real.
The most beautiful of the state apartments are the George Rooms, all four of whose ceilings were painted by Verrio and have not been used since Queen Victoria visited in 1844. In the Jewel Closet, off the First George Room, hangs what has to be the finest of all the paintings at Burghley, Christ Blessing the Bread and Wine by Carlo Dolci (1616-1686).
Other highlights include: Queen Elizabeth’s Bedroom, containing the original 17th century state bed and suite of chairs; the Chapel, dominated by the superb altarpiece of Zebedee’s wife petitioning Our Lord by Paolo Veronese, which the 9th Earl purchased from the Church of San Giacomo on the Venetian island of Murano; and the Old Kitchen, which constitutes the oldest part of the house and best represents the Tudor aspects of the home.
The Estate at Burghley
The House is the centre of an agricultural estate that comprises some 10,000 acres. The park and gardens at Burghley are magnificent, but have been significantly altered since the days of Elizabeth I.
The 9th Earl of Exeter employed one of the greatest English landscape gardeners Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown to create the park in the 19th century. Brown altered it significantly, clearing away everything but Queen Anne’s Avenue (a mile-long double bank of 1,200 Limes), adding a 22-acre lake and the Lion Bridge, which remain today.
The Sculpture Garden alone takes up 12 acres and is home to a contemporary collection. In this garden an old ice house can be spotted, which was used to store ice throughout the year.
Burghley House is only open to visitors from March 21 to October 30, but the Sculpture Garden is open all year round.
Considered by many to be the finest Elizabethan House in England, this stunning estate is a must see stop when visiting the East Midlands.
Source:
- Burghley House by English Life Publications
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