Kirby Hall

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This article is about the house in Northamptonshire. For the house in Essex, see Kirby Hall, Essex. For the school in Austin, Texas, see Kirby Hall School.
Kirby Hall
Kirby Hall - north front from forecourt.jpg
Kirby Hall 2016
Kirby Hall is located in Northamptonshire
Kirby Hall
Location within Northamptonshire
General information
TypeCountry house
LocationGretton, Northamptonshire
Coordinates52°31′27″N 0°38′14″W / 52.52417°N 0.63722°W / 52.52417; -0.63722Coordinates: 52°31′27″N 0°38′14″W / 52.52417°N 0.63722°W / 52.52417; -0.63722
Completed17th century
OwnerEnglish Heritage

Kirby Hall is an Elizabethan country house, located near Gretton, Northamptonshire, England. The nearest main town is Corby. One of the great Elizabethan houses of England, Kirby Hall was built for Sir Humphrey Stafford of Blatherwick, beginning in 1570. In 1575 the property was purchased by Sir Christopher Hatton of Holdenby,[1] Lord Chancellor to Queen Elizabeth I. It is a leading and early example of the Elizabethan prodigy house. Construction on the building began in 1570, based on the designs in French architectural pattern books and expanded in the Classical style over the course of the following decades. The house is now in a semi-ruined state with many parts roof-less although the Great Hall and state rooms remain intact. The gardens, with their elaborate "cutwork" design, complete with statues and urns, have been recently restored.

Anne of Denmark stayed at Kirby on 9 August 1605 while King James stayed at Rockingham Castle.[2] King James stayed for three days in August 1616.[3] During a royal progress Esmé Stewart, 3rd Duke of Lennox died at Kirby of the "spotted ague" on 30 July 1624.[4]

The building and gardens are owned by the Earl of Winchilsea and are managed by English Heritage.

Kirby Hall has been used as a filming location in many productions. These include the following; an episode (6. Protest and Communication) of Kenneth Clark's Civilisation,[5] and Jane Austen's Mansfield Park[6][7] and A Christmas Carol for Ealing Studios in 1999, and Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story in 2005. In 2014 it was the venue for an edition of BBC One's Antiques Roadshow.[8]

Images[]

  • The giant order is exceptionally early for England

  • North front from inner courtyard

  • Rear facade

  • Oblique view (side & rear)

  • Kirby Hall in 1829

  • The builder, Christopher Hatton by Nicholas Hilliard, 1588-1591

References[]

  1. ^ https://www.britainexpress.com/counties/northants/houses/kirby-hall.htm/ref>
  2. ^ John Nichols, Progresses of James the First, vol. 1 (London, 1828), p. 525.
  3. ^ Mary Anne Everett Green, Calendar State Papers Domestic, Addenda 1580-1625 (London, 1872), p. 556 citing TNA SP15/40 f.180
  4. ^ John Nichols, Progresses of James the First, vol. 4 (London, 1828), p. 985.
  5. ^ Clark, Kenneth (1969) 6. Protest and Communication, Civilisation, BBC
  6. ^ "Mansfield Park". The Castles and Manor Houses of Cinema's Greatest Period Films. Architectural Digest. January 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  7. ^ "Mansfield Park". The Castles and Manor Houses of Cinema's Greatest Period Films. Architectural Digest. January 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  8. ^ "BBC One - Antiques Roadshow, Series 37, Kirby Hall".

External links[]

Media related to Kirby Hall at Wikimedia Commons

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