Burghley House

History

William Cecil built Burghley House over more than thirty years in the second half of the 16th century, and the senior Exeter branch of his family has lived there ever since. Most of the exterior keeps its Elizabethan form, though the interiors were largely remodelled before 1800, layering later taste over the original design. The house passed into the care of the Burghley House Preservation Trust, a charity controlled by the Cecil family, which now oversees its conservation.

Architecture

Burghley is considered one of the leading examples of the Elizabethan prodigy house, a style built by Elizabethan courtiers to display wealth and status. Its silhouette of turrets, towers and ornate chimneys survives largely intact from the 16th century, while the state rooms behind it reflect later remodelling.

Worth knowing

The house is closely linked to Elizabeth I's chief minister William Cecil, whose descendants still live there and whose family controls the trust that manages it. The grounds also host the Burghley Horse Trials, one of the sport's major three-day events, held on the estate each autumn.

Gardens & grounds

The gardens split into two distinct areas: a Sculpture Garden set within Capability Brown's original landscape, and the Garden of Surprises, a playful reworking of Elizabethan water tricks and classical themes.