Kirby Hall

Kirby Hall
country house ruin
Kirby Hall 2016
Country	England
Region	Midlands
District	Leicestershire
Municipality	Corby
Founded	17th century
Owner	English Heritage
Visitation	accessible to the public for a fee (year round)

Kirby Hall is an Elizabethan country house, located near Gretton, Northamptonshire, England. The nearest main town is Corby. Kirby was owned by Sir Christopher Hatton, 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 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.

The building and gardens are owned by The Earl of Winchilsea, and 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, and Jane Austen's Mansfield Park 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.

The giant order is exceptionally early for England

North front from inner courtyard

Kirby Hall in 2007

Kirby Hall in 1829

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

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