The House
Burghley is one of the largest and grandest surviving houses of the sixteenth century and a magnificent example of the great Elizabethan ‘prodigy’ houses. Conceived by William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I, between 1555 and 1587, Burghley is a testament to the ambition and vision of the most powerful courtier of the first Elizabethan age.
The Gardens
Green tranquil walks, modern sculpture and family fun. The gardens and parkland that you see today at Burghley were largely designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown in the 18th century. Today, sweeping vistas down to the spires of Stamford in the parkland, mesmerising oasis of flowing water can be viewed in the Garden of Surprises or tranquil walks next to the lake in the Sculpture Garden can all be enjoyed.
The Family
William Cecil, the first Lord Burghley, had a strong sense of family. Burghley House, the Cecil family’s home for over sixteen generations, continues to be the centrepiece for this sense of shared legacy.
The Estate
Burghley Estate was endowed to the Burghley House Preservation Trust by the 6th Marquess of Exeter in 1987. Made up of Burghley House, farmland, woodland, and a significant property portfolio, the Estate covers an array of residential, agricultural and commercial properties including hotels, pubs and offices with additional quarries, gardens and allotments as well as the rights to sporting activities.
The work of the Estate encompasses the maintenance, management and restoration of this wide variety of property which includes many interesting and historic buildings.
Our Collections
The collection of Fine Art held within Burghley House is extensive and varied, and includes many highly important objects. The collection of Italian Old Master paintings is one of the finest in private hands. The collections of both Oriental and European ceramics are world famous and of great interest to scholars. Fine English and Continental furniture, 17th century Objects of Vertu, English portrait miniatures and European Works of Art all feature strongly, whilst the collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles is thought to be one of the finest in the Western world.
