The south face of Burghley originally had an open gallery at ground level. Whilst an attractive feature, it must have been difficult to use in the winter months. In the late 17th century, the gallery was enclosed by the insertion of 14 arched windows and a central doorway. The view of the house obtained from the south makes apparent the addition of the Great Hall and most of the east range at a later stage of the original building programme. The obelisk that crowns the clock tower of the Inner Court may seem strangely placed but is central to the view from the west, which it was designed to complement. Most of what seem to be second-storey windows are in fact blank frames as the internal height of the first floor staterooms, more than 18 feet, occupies the full extent of the structure.