Burghley House

Burghley House

Burghley House is one of the largest Elizabethan mansions in England. Built between approximately 1555 and 1587 by William Cecil, later Lord Burghley, it stands on the common boundary of the parishes of Barnack and St Martins Without. The site previously housed an earlier dwelling with remains of St Michael's Priory, which had come into the Cecil family's possession between 1508 and 1528 under Richard Cecil, father of Lord Burghley.

The house is constructed of Barnack stone and comprises a four-storey structure arranged around three sides of a rectangular courtyard, with the fourth side formed by earlier work. The earliest parts—the hall with double hammer beam roof and the vaulted kitchen—occupy the east side and form part of the original building campaign. At the corners stand three-storey square towers crowned with octagonal turrets topped by ogee cupolas.

The west front, dated 1577, displays a symmetrical composition of 1:3:3:3:1 bays with projecting bay windows set in the recesses between the angle towers. The centrepiece comprises a four-storey entrance tower with four octagonal corner turrets capped with ogee cupolas, beneath which rises a three-storey canted bay window above a round-arched bay. This bay is fitted with fine wrought iron gates by Jean Tijou. An openwork cresting runs above the parapet.

The south front was significantly altered by Capability Brown around 1763 to 1765. It presents three storeys across twelve bays, with the top storey featuring blind windows. The ground floor contains a nine-bay arcade with a 17th-century segmental pediment centrally positioned above the main entrance.

The north front, dated 1586, features a projecting canted central feature containing a ground-floor loggia with a semi-circular bay at the centre flanked by quarter-circle bays in the angles, embellished with cresting and obelisks. A low projecting wing extends to the northeast, terminating in an end tower with octagonal upper stage and ogee cap; its corresponding counterpart on the right was demolished in the 18th century. A semi-circular forecourt to the north is enclosed by fine wrought iron railings and gates.

The courtyard's east side is dominated by a large central tower rising in four stages. The ground and first floors feature large coffered arches, above which rises a splayed bay. Each storey is flanked by pilastered niches with superimposed arches. Crowning this composition is a square clock tower, dated 1585, supported by lions with obelisks at its corners and surmounted by a massive obelisk spire. The north and south courtyard elevations display tall niches above three-bay arcaded ground floors with Tuscan columns. The west courtyard elevation has octagonal turrets in the angles, with taller examples above the centrepiece, which features a narrow bowed window over the doorway flanked by Tuscan columns. The courtyard underwent alteration in the 1830s by Gandy-Deering. The overall skyline is dominated by numerous turrets, column chimney shafts, and the prominent spire crowning the clock tower.

Internally, the Great Hall retains its double hammer beam roof and a classical fireplace of slightly later date; Belgian bookcases were inserted around 1830. The vaulted kitchen, dating to approximately 1556, lies north of the hall. The chapel was altered in 1830 but preserves an altarpiece by Veronese and wood carving by Grinling Gibbons. A 'Roman' staircase features a coffered stone vault. During the 1680s and 1690s, much of the interior underwent redecoration and the south front was remodelled. The Ballroom was decorated by Laguerre in 1689. Grinling Gibbons contributed extensive carving throughout, including a particularly fine overmantel in the Marble Hall. The State rooms contain paintings by Verrio and a chimney piece by Piranesi, with stucco ceilings attributed to Edward Martin (1680–1682), though possibly executed by Robert Adam or Thomas Lumby. A Grand Staircase was added in 1782. The Gothic billiard room, north dining room, and library ceilings date to approximately 1756, with contemporary landscaping of the park and associated outbuildings carried out by Capability Brown around 1756.