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BURGHLEY
MINI GUIDE to Burghley House & Gardens Visitor information to guide you and help to make the most of your visit
www.burghley.co.uk BUR9713_miniguide_A5_12pp_ART_Layout123/02/201712:08Page2
This glorious House was designed and built by William Cecil, the 1st Lord Burghley (1520-1598), Lord High Treasurer and Chief Minister to Queen Elizabeth 1.
The House was inherited by his descendants, the Earls and Marquesses of Exeter, until the death of the 6th Marquess in 1981 when the House and its Orlando & Miranda Rock & family contents became part of a Charitable Trust. The title was inherited by his brother and is currently held by his nephew, Michael, 8th Marquess of WELCOME Exeter. Today, the Burghley House Preservation Trust to Burghley House administers the House, in which there has been an extensive and For as long as I can remember, Burghley has filled ongoing programme of people with awe and inspiration. So much more than conservation and restoration work for the last three decades. a house, Burghley offers a unique glimpse of the way Burghley is still lived in by a great houses have been lived in from the time of direct descendant of William Queen Elizabeth1to the present day. Earlier Cecil, Miranda Rock, together generations of my family have endowed this magical with her husband Orlando and their four children. place with beautiful treasures and it is a privilege for all of us who live and work here to share them with you.
William Cecil
5th Earl of Exeter
9th Earl of Exeter BUR9713_miniguide_A5_12pp_ART_Layout123/02/201712:08Page3
PLENTY TO SEE & DO 1. Visitor Entrance & Brewhouse Centre 2. Entrance to the State Rooms 3. Entrance to Gardens 4. Garden of Surprises 5. Sculpture Gardens tasty choice of places to eat & shop 6. Orangery Restaurant 7. Courtyard Shop 2 8. Garden Shop 6 9. Garden Café 10. The Shed 7
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Disabled Parking Coach Park 9
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To help you enjoy exploring Burghley House and our many priceless treasures, you may wish to make use of the audio guide or obtain the comprehensive guide book available from the TOUR Brewhouse reception and the Courtyard Shop. Highlights A tour of the House Your tour begins on the upper floor of the BREWHOUSE, where there is an audio-visual introduction to the House and the family called ‘Ancestors in the Attic’. There is also a small exhibition space known as the Treasury, in which items specially chosen from the House, not usually seen by visitors, are displayed in an annually changing exhibition. Your tour begins at the Brewhouse... BUR9713_miniguide_A5_12pp_ART_Layout123/02/201712:08Page4
GROUND FLOOR Hell TOUR Stairwell
Great Highlights Hall
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The Old 1 Kitchen Roman Staircase Cross the Chestnut Courtyard towards the Visitor visitor entrance... Entrance View of the Inner Court
Crossing the CHESTNUT COURTYARD, the Leaving the CHAPEL, the visitor enters the North visitor entrance leads into the OLD KITCHEN Wing and the BILLIARD ROOM. The billiard table with its soaring fan vaulting, high lantern and was made in the 1850s of timber recovered from collection of 18th and 19th Century copper, much HMS Royal George which sank at Spithead in 1782. of it previously used in this kitchen – note the boot It is still used by the Burghley staff and family for a warmer! The skulls you can see on the wall are keenly contested annual Snooker Championship. turtle skulls, used to make turtle soup in the 18th The oval portraits are of members of a gentleman’s Century and served in the turtle shaped soup drinking and gambling club, known as the Little tureen [1]. Steps lead to an area known as Bedlam Club, which used to meet here in the 17th HOG’S HALL where there is a collection of Century. Other paintings to note are numbers 76 leather fire buckets and early pulley-operated and and 77, John, 5th Earl [3] and the Countess of later battery-driven bells. Exeter by Kneller, who extensively refurbished the House in the 17th Century. The magnificent barrel vaulted ROMAN STAIRS, decorated with Tudor emblems, is the only remaining original staircase at Burghley. It continues to the roof, an area once used for recreation and 3 private conversation, but the visitor turns left into the ANTE CHAPEL which affords a fine view of the Inner Court [2] at the centre of the building. It was in this room that household staff gathered for prayers, whilst the family and their guests worshipped in the CHAPEL.The 9th Earl commissioned alterations to the Chapel in the 18th Century, in an effort to improve what Horace Walpole had described as ‘a low, dark and ill-favoured room.’ The Ante Chapel 5th Earl of Exeter BUR9713_miniguide_A5_12pp_ART_Layout123/02/201712:08Page5
FIRST FLOOR 8 7 10 4th 3rd 2nd Heaven George Hell Staircase Room George George 1st George Room Room 9 Room Room
Blue Silk Dressing Room
Blue Silk Bedroom
Pagoda 6 Inner Court Room
Chapel Ante Queen Elizabeth’s Bedroom Chapel Marquetry Room 5 4 Brown 3 Billiard Room Drawing Black Bow Room and Room Yellow Roman Bedroom Staircase
William IV brass travelling bed, used by the young Queen Victoria The BOW ROOM, the 5th Earl’s State Dining Room, is immediately above the main North entrance to the House. It was painted by Louis Laguerre in 1697 and depicts scenes from the life of Marc Antony and Cleopatra to East and West walls, the Conduct of Scipio to the South and upon the ceiling, mythological gods and goddesses representing the planetary system.
The BROWN DRAWING ROOM, this 17th Century Drawing Room, has a magnificent late 17th Century plaster ceiling, the first of many the visitor will see in this and the West Wing. They The Bow Room decorated for the 5th Earl were created for the 5th Earl by Edward Marten by Louis Laguerre in 1697 and each one is different in design. The small William IV brass travelling bed, circa 1830, was used by Princess (later Queen) Victoria when she 4 visited Burghley with her mother two years before she ascended the throne and reflects the changing use of these rooms over the years.
The BLACK AND YELLOW BEDROOM is so named after the 18th Century State Bed [4] which was first restored in 1838, (this date appears under the tester). During recent conservation and restoration work the embroidery was conserved, to prevent further deterioration, and then applied to new backing material. The Black and Yellow Bedroom BUR9713_miniguide_A5_12pp_ART_Layout123/02/201712:08Page6
TOUR Highlights
5 Three steps lead to the MARQUETRY
ROOM, and the West Wing. All of the rooms The Marquetry Room in this wing were created from the 16th Century Long Gallery, which greatly increased wall space on which to hang the 5th Earl’s newly acquired Italian paintings. The fashionable corner fireplaces were Kakiemon surmounted by chimney trees designed for the porcelain display of Chinese and Japanese porcelain, which was much in vogue at the time. Many of the items of Japanese Kakiemon porcelain [5] in this room Staff, no. 196. On the opposite wall is a superb are in the 1688 inventory; Burghley has the portrait, no. 781, of the 9th Earl, painted in Naples earliest inventoried collection of Japanese by Angelica Kauffman, R.A. in 1764 on his first visit porcelain in the West. to Italy. The painting left Burghley, through inheritance, on his death in 1793 and was bought All the rooms in the West Wing back by the Trustees in 2003. were created from the 16th In the BLUE SILK BEDROOM the 18th Century Century Long Gallery State bed is covered with fine English crewel work. The suite of marquetry furniture, made in 1665 by QUEEN ELIZABETH’S BEDROOM is dominated Pierre Gôle, chief furniture maker to King Louis by a very fine 17th Century State bed which is XIV of France, was bought by the 5th Earl from complemented by contemporary English furniture the Gobelins workshops in Paris and is a very rare decorated to resemble lacquer. The tester, the example of early French floral marquetry. backcloth, the headboard and the trimmings are all original but the curtains, bedspread and bed skirt had deteriorated and were remade in the1980s. The faux marble wall decoration is a 20th Century 6 recreation of the 17th Century decorative scheme which was removed in the 19th Century.
The PAGODA ROOM has mainly family and Royal portraits, among them being a fine one, attributed to Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger (1561-1636) of William Cecil, the first Lord Burghley [6] wearing Garter robes and holding the Lord High Treasurer’s
Queen Elizabeth’s Bedroom Lord Burghley BUR9713_miniguide_A5_12pp_ART_Layout123/02/201712:08Page7
FIRST FLOOR 8 7 10 4th 3rd 2nd Heaven George Hell Staircase Room George George 1st George Room Room 9 Room Room
Blue Silk Dressing Room
Blue Silk Bedroom
Pagoda 6 Inner Court Room
Chapel Ante Queen Elizabeth’s Bedroom Chapel Marquetry Room 5 4 Brown 3 Billiard Room Drawing Black Bow Room and Room Yellow Roman Bedroom Staircase
Chinese and Japanese porcelain can be found in the Blue Silk Dressing Room The porcelain in the BLUE SILK DRESSING ROOM comprises Chinese and Japanese wares that are mentioned in the inventory taken of the House in 1688. Hanging in the window are some exquisite examples of Italian micro mosaic and pietra-dura that were purchased by the 9th Earl while he travelled in Italy.
The FIRST GEORGE ROOM is the first of the great State Rooms in the South Wing which were intended for royalty and other important guests, a fact reflected in the splendid 18th Century fireplaces, each with silver hearth decoration. Above: The Blue Silk Dressing Room Antonio Verrio (1639-1707) was commissioned by Below: The Second George Room the 5th Earl to decorate this important suite of rooms with mythological scenes. It is thought that while working from 1686-1697 he painted the ceilings, in part, to reflect the purpose of the room below; for example, here, in what was a dressing room, Day chases Night from the sky at dawn.
The SECOND GEORGE ROOM has a fine 18th Century State bed which was reduced and refurbished in 1844 for a three day visit by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Do have a close look at the pair of tapestries that illustrate views of the House in the borders, these are extremely rare and were made by John Vandebank in his Soho workshops in the 1690s. BUR9713_miniguide_A5_12pp_ART_Layout123/02/201712:08Page8
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The Third George Room Still Life by Giuseppe Recco The Hell Staircase
The THIRD GEORGE ROOM features a The HELL STAIRCASE [10] forms a powerful particularly beautiful inlaid marble fireplace [7 ] contrast to the previous room. This ceiling and the that was made for the 9th Earl by John Richter in supporting architecture was also painted by Verrio the late 18th Century. Above this hangs Saint and illustrates the entrance to Hell as a cat’s Gregory by Carlo Saraceni, no.313.This is flanked mouth. The figurative scheme on the walls were by a magnificent pair of still life flower paintings added by Thomas Stothard (1755-1834) at the [8] by Giuseppe Recco (1634-1695), and the beginning of the 19th Century. monumental canvasses The Death of Seneca, no. 406 and The Rape of Europa, no.397, are both by The GREAT HALL has a magnificent original the Neapolitan artist Luca Giordano (1632-1705). double hammer beam roof and a Tudor fireplace and houses some of the books from the original The FOURTH GEORGE ROOM, originally library that was taken down by Capability Brown. intended as the dining room of the suite, contains a This leads to the OLYMPIC CORRIDOR where magnificent Florentine cabinet with pietra-dura inlay the 6th Marquess’ remarkable athletics career is that was given to the 5th Earl and Countess by celebrated, including the display of his Olympic Archduke Cosimo de Medici III. The centre table Gold and Silver medals. was created in the early 19th Century using panels of marquetry from the 16th and 18th Centuries.
The HEAVEN ROOM depicts a mythological heaven with gods and goddesses ‘disporting themselves, as gods and goddesses are wont to do’, to quote an early guide book! The cartoon on the easel is Verrio’s preliminary idea for the East wall. In the final work, he painted 9 himself seated at Vulcan’s forge, without his customary wig, no doubt due to the heat! In the centre of the room sits the magnificent silver wine cooler [9] made by Philip Rollos in 1710. From the Heaven Room a section from Antonio Verrio’s scenes of ancient mythology BUR9713_miniguide_A5_12pp_ART_Layout123/02/201712:08Page9
Garden
Highlights Garden of Surprises William Cecil was renowned as an avid creator of beautiful gardens. The garden Lord Burghley developed at Theobalds, his house in Hertfordshire, was particularly well known with walks, avenues and objects of interest which included fountains with concealed pipes to spray passers-by, a maze, statues, grottoes, a sundial and obelisks. The Garden of Surprises is a modern oasis of flowing water and fountains, just watch out for the odd splash from children in wellies interacting with the fountains, or join in yourself!
Contemporary Sculpture Garden The Burghley Sculpture Garden was reclaimed from Capability Brown’s lost lower gardens in1994 and has acquired a permanent collection of over 20 sculptures. The Sculpture Garden is dedicated to exhibiting innovative sculptures made using traditional and contemporary techniques. The unique landscape of the garden allows for an extensive range of styles to be exhibited together; including figurative and abstract sculptures in diverse media.
Visitor Guidelines Disabled Access • Children must be supervised at all times; a minimum The disabled car park is half way between of one adult for every four children the entrance to the House and to the • Children to be clothed or in swimsuits at all times Gardens. The Garden of Surprises is completely accessible, and the Sculpture • Suitable footwear must be worn at all times Garden has mown grass paths making it • Sorry no dogs or ball games accessible in good weather. The park has • Please do not climb on any of the structures tarmac paths. For more information about or sculptures accessibility for your specific needs please call 01780 752451. • Paddling is encouraged in the paddling area only • Picnics in the Sculpture Garden only Gruesomely • Please do not drink the water Grubby Gardens The Gardens can be explored The Garden Café with our Gruesomely Grubby Following your visit to the Gardens why not visit Gardens children’s guidebook, the Garden Café, the perfect place for a take-away which you are able to purchase hot drink, sandwich or salad, home-made cake or on entry, packed with puzzles, delicious ice cream. Open 7 days a week during the amusing facts and gruesomely gardens open season, 11am to 5pm. grubby trails. BUR9713_miniguide_A5_12pp_ART_Layout123/02/201712:08Page10
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1 Sophie Dickens Balance 6 Giles Kent 5 Carved Oak Trunks 2 The Transforming Obelisks 7 Martyn Barratt Gnomen 3 Neptune’s grotto 8 Rick Kirby Vertical Face II 4 The Longitude Dial 9 Peter Randall Page Turf Maze 5 The Water Curtain 10 Julian Wild System No.18 10 BUR9713_miniguide_A5_12pp_ART_Layout123/02/201712:09Page11
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6 a Entrance to the 7 5 Sculpture Garden b Entrance to the 19 1 28 Garden of Surprises 17 15 13 c Garden Shop d 4 3 9 d Garden Café 2 16 24 10 11 c a 18 A 27 K H b E 20 M O 25 12 7 L 22 N 8 F
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Permanent Sculpture 14 Giles Kent Garden of Surprises Exhibits 3 Carved Larch Trunks Features 15 Martyn Barratt 1 Sophie Dickens Untitled A The Copper Tree Fountain Balance 16 Nick Horrigan Syntheses B The Transforming Obelisks 2 Martyn Barratt 17 Rick Kirby C Neptune’s grotto Untitled Vertical Face II D The Longitude Dial 3 Martyn Barratt Parthenogenesis 18 Nicholas Moreton E Water Curtain 4 David Annesley The Edge F The Paddling Pool Fire 9 19 Denis O’Connor G The Caesars’ Heads 5 Sally Matthews Tower 4 H Water column Cows 20 Teddy Bears’ Picnic I Convex and Concave Mirrors 6 Giles Kent 21 Michele Ciribifera Elicoide BG J The Dark Moss House 5 Carved Oak Trunks 22 Michael Shaw 7 Martyn Barratt Neon Ice House K The Water House Gnomen 23 Armando Varela L The Emperors Triumph 8 Rick Kirby Two Bird Heads M The Mirror Tree Vertical Face I 24 Ally Wallace N Merrelles in the Theatron 9 Peter Randall Page House O The Three Fountains Turf Maze 25 Pauline Wittka-Jezewski 10 Julian Wild Existere System No.18 26 Tomoya Yamaguchi Untitled 11 Wang Keping 27 Stefano Bonacci Standing Man I Objet Dans La Foret 12 Wang Keping 28 Wang Keping Garden Standing Man II Giant Head 13 Giles Kent 29 Sally Matthews Untitled Stag Highlights BUR9713_miniguide_A5_12pp_ART_Layout123/02/201712:09Page12
Annual Pass From March 2017 all tickets to the House and Gardens and Gardens will be available as gift-aidable annual BURGHLEY passes at no extra charge. These passes will allow access to the House and Gardens or Gardens only for a full year from the date of Enhance your visit purchase. Please note your year starts from the date of purchase of your ticket. Certain event days will Places to eat and shop not be included in annual pass admission, please check which Orangery Restaurant tickets you need to purchase on our The Orangery Restaurant offers a wide variety of delicious, events diary. locally sourced dishes for you to enjoy: from a self service lunch, to a sit down group meal in the Loggia overlooking the beautiful Group visits Rose Garden or a traditional afternoon tea – a perfect way to end your day. The team at Burghley welcome [email protected] 01780 761989 groups from far and wide and attract a wide range of groups; from Art Garden Café Historians to Conservation, A cup of coffee and a sandwich in the sunshine or a warming NADFAS and U3A groups. For bowl of soup in the winter; the Garden Café offers a family further information or to make a friendly alternative to relax and enjoy. booking, please call 01780 752451 or email [email protected] Courtyard Shop Our refurbished Courtyard Shop located in the Chestnut Memberships Courtyard, sells an array of wonderful gifts. Whether Visit us as many times as you like, it is something luxurious or something you can’t live without, as well as unlocking other fantastic pop in and treat yourself! benefits with our Burghley Garden Shop Membership! Ask at our ticket desks Plants, gardening and souvenirs, the Garden Shop stocks a wide for further information on upgrading range of high quality plants and British made gardening tools, your day admission pass for a season pretty accessories and books. For the younger visitor, games, ticket. toys and books plus pocket money items are available. Extra family fun Our Beastly Boring Burghley children’s guidebook brings history www.burghley.co.uk to life and is included free with a child’s ticket to the House. Beastly Boring Burghley costumed tours run regularly throughout the school holidays, please visit our website for more details. Alternatively try our family audio guides for a light hearted tour of the House.