The Burghley collection of silver and metalwork is extensive, containing pieces by the finest makers of the late 17th, 18th & 19th centuries. It does not however contain items from the time of the builder, William Cecil, 1st Lord Burghley, an extremely wealthy man and a great collector. This may be due to gradual disposals and sales of ‘old’ silver but it is worth considering that a modern-thinking Earl, ordering a huge wine cooler in the early 18th century, from a Huguenot smith whose holding of large amounts of bullion was restricted, might perhaps have gone to his own silver vault for supplies!