Ickworth House

Ickworth House is a large country mansion that began construction in 1795, designed by Mario Asprucci for Frederick, the 4th Earl of Bristol and Bishop of Derry, who passed away in 1803 before the house was completed. The work was finished between 1821 and 1829 for Frederick William Hervey, the 5th Earl and 1st Marquis of Bristol. The house is built from stuccoed brick with slated and leaded roofs.

The central rotunda rises to 105 feet and features a domed and balustraded top. The main entrance has a portico supported by four Ionic columns, standing two storeys high and topped with a pediment. The rotunda is surrounded by a lower order of Ionic pilasters and an upper order of Corinthian pilasters, both extending through two storeys. Notable are the two giant bas-relief friezes created by the Carabelli brothers, inspired by Flaxman's illustrations of Horner.

On either side of the rotunda are segmental one-storey corridors that connect to the East and West wings, each two storeys high and featuring a central pediment supported by four Ionic columns. The total frontage of the house measures 625 feet.

The interior fittings were mostly completed by 1830 and include a fine marble fireplace in the Library, Scagliola columns in both the Library and Entrance Hall, and coved ceilings in the corridors. The Pompeian Room was decorated by J.D. Crace in 1879. The main staircase in the rotunda and the East wing were remodeled by Reginald Blomfield in 1909. Ickworth House is now owned by the National Trust, which provides illustrations and descriptions in their Official Guide.