BURGHLEY HOUSE
Burghley is one of the largest and grandest surviving houses of the sixteenth century and a wonderful example of the great Elizabethan ‘prodigy’ houses, built to honour the Queen.
Conceived by William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I and built between 1555 and 1587, Burghley is a testament to the ambition and vision of the most powerful courtier of the first Elizabethan age.
Cecil’s rise to power coincided with a change in English architectural fashion. Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1558 brought with it a feeling of optimism for a period of peace and stability in England. Powerful men of the day built great houses that were designed as homes rather than defensible castles. Published folios of architectural designs from Italy and France guided their construction. Cecil corresponded with one of the foremost Dutch architects, Hans Vredeman de Vries, to seek help with design and execution of details. De Vries is recorded as having supplied ready-made columns for an arcade and other advice.
The gardens, designed by Lancelot “Capability” Brown are stunning and contain many interesting and wonderful sculptures.
You can see a virtual tour of the house at https://burghley.co.uk/plan-your-visit/the-house
Entrance to the Sculpture Garden
The rear of the house
Topiary
Path to fountain and lake
Lion topiary
Geese
View from lake towards the house
Spring has sprung
The deer looks real
Until you get close!
Sculptures on water
Sculptures in the gardens
I thought this was an old pram at first!
A surfing mouse!
Old ice house
Ajax
Agrippa - looks like someone you don't mess with!
Antonius Pius
Sun dial
Smokey pool
Smoking pylon sculpture
Lest we forget...
Cecil coat of arms
Spring bed
Popular spot in the cold and damp
Visitor entrance to house
Silver sculpture - lion and horse
Squirrel snuff box
Visitor display
Painting of the house
William Cecil - Queen Elizabeth 1's chief minister
Aerial view of the house with its many turrets
Elizabeth 1
The kitchen
Strange looking moose
Tea urn
A gruesome display of turtle heads (from Turtle soup)
Family Bible
Family chapel
Ceiling detail
Interior courtyard
Billiards room
The Bow Room was originally the State Dining Room and features walls painted by Louis Laguerre in 1697. The paintings depict episodes from the life of Cleopatra and Mark Anthony upon the East and West walls, the Conduct of Scipio towards his Fair Captive on the South Wall and scenes of classical mythology on the ceiling.
A camp bed used by a young Princess (later Queen) Victoria on a visit by her mother Princess Victoria Saxe-Coburg
Still life painting
Henry VIII portrait
Oliver Cromwell portrait
Lancelot "Capability" Brown
Magnificent ceiling
View of rear gardens from the house
Tree planting spades - Queen Victoria had to use a child's spade!
Solid silver wine cooler the size of a small bath!
Detailed wooden carving
The great hall
David Cecil (6th Marquis of Exeter) won an Olympic Gold medal in 1928 400m Hurdles
One of the many ornamental turrets
Dried fruits for drinks
A not so busy drinks van
The Cheesy Pig - Cooked pork products
Follow the yellow brick road!!