Knebworth House

Knebworth House

Country house, home of the Lytton family since 1492. The building is one wing of a mid-16th-century brick courtyard house; the other three sides were demolished in 1811 by Mrs Bulwer Lytton. The surviving wing was transformed into a Tudor-style stuccoed mansion between around 1815 and 1820 by J B Rebecca, and subsequently modified in a more lavish Tudor style by H E Kendall for Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton soon after 1843. A third storey was added to the east, entrance front in 1878 by John Lee. A servants' wing was added at the same time by George Devey; this was demolished and replaced in 1950. Alterations including a library were carried out by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1907. The house is of 2–3 storeys, constructed in stucco over red brick with some early brickwork exposed on the east elevation.

The east, entrance front has a central projecting section with tall angle turrets, flanked by outer projections. The central porch features an extravagant castellated attic with carved gargoyles and blank heraldic motifs. The wings have large mullioned windows with traceried horizontal banding and crow step central gables, together with traceried octagonal turrets topped with ogee domes. To the right of the porch is a wall containing three tall pointed-arch windows. Other windows are of two lights with Tudor hood moulds. A late 19th-century three-window projection on the left joins with a screen wall at right angles, which features a massive gateway tower and a round terminal tower.

The garden elevation is more richly detailed, displaying a continuous traceried frieze below battlements, interrupted by finials and slender octagonal turrets. The central porch is a round turret with square additions, including a first-floor oriel flanked by a square turret, and has a deeply moulded four-centre arch door. The two-light Tudor windows feature rich cusping; those on the left side are larger and divided by transoms. An extension on the right, dating from the late 19th century, has a three-storey canted bay window. The south elevation, designed by Lutyens, features 1:3:1 sash windows in moulded stone frames and a two-storey canted bay with a mullioned leaded window.

Interior

The hall, positioned to the right of the screens passage, is in its original location and is an exceptionally well-preserved example from the 17th century. It features a circa 1620 carved oak screen with a balustrated minstrels' gallery comprising three arches, the central one with caryatid term figures and open strapwork panelling. The other three walls are lined with full-height Corinthian panelling from around 1700, featuring fluted columns and pilasters with an enriched entablature. The entablature is broken forward as a sedimented fireplace surround on the west wall and as a broad sedimented arch with detached columns on the north wall. The panelling includes fielded work to the doors, soffits and blank arches, and a continuous plinth imitating channelled ashlar. Original leaded windows are retained. The two arches to the left of the screens passage are by Lutyens. The west staircase is in two flights in Jacobean style dating to around 1843, with diapered Tudor brickwork exposed on the east staircase wall. The library on the north-west ground floor contains bookshelves and a fireplace by Lutyens, the latter bearing a medallion of Bulwer Lytton by Gilbert. The state drawing room on the north side of the first floor is decorated with painted heraldry by John Crace. Mrs Bulwer Lytton's bedroom contains a Jacobean overmantel, and the Falkland Room features 18th-century Chinese wallpaper.