Earlier Houses: There was an earlier house on the site that was replaced by the current house in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. At this first house, John Harington, Lord Harington, produced a performance of Shakespeare’s “Titus Andronicus” on New Year’s Day 1596. In the spring of 1603 Lord and Lady Harington hosted James I and Anne of Denmark at Burley when the royal couple stopped in Rutlandshire on their way to London for James’s coronation. In 1620 Lord Harington's daughter, Lucy Russell, Countess of Bedford, sold Burley to George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham. In 1621 Buckingham produced Ben Jonson's masque “The Gypsies Metamorphosed” at Burley to celebrate his marriage to Lady Katherine Manners, daughter of the 6th Earl of Rutland.

Built / Designed For: Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham

House & Family History: Before beginning his new house, the 2nd Earl of Nottingham consulted with Sir Christopher Wren and ordered that measurements be taken of Montagu House, London. The grand, Wren-style house that was built for Lord Nottingham incorporated the stableblock from the earlier house and features a pedimented central block with symmetrical wings that forms a cour d’honneur, a rare feature in an English house. Between 1993 and 1998 Kit Martin converted the house into six residences and created 22 homes on the estate.

Collections: Some furniture from Burley was sold at Christie's on July 6, 1989. A famous 1603 painting by Robert Peake the Elder entitled "Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, with Sir John Harington in the Hunting Field" (see "Images" section) was probably commissioned by Lord and Lady Harington. It contains an image of their son John (who died just in 1614 at the age of 22) kneeling beside the prince in the painting. The canvas has been in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, since 1944.

Chapel & Church: The Church of the Holy Cross, next to the house, is cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Grade II

Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSE: John Harington, 1st Baron Harington of Exton, until 1613. Lucy Russell, Countess of Bedford, 1620. George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, 1621-28. Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Nottingham and 4th Baron Howard of Effingham, 17th century. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham and 7th Earl of Winchilsea, 1695-1730; Daniel Finch, 8th Earl of Winchilsea and 3rd Earl of Nottingham, 1730-69. Hanbury family, until late 20th century. Asil Nadir, 1991-93.

Current Ownership Type: Flat Owners Company / Condo Association

Primary Current Ownership Use: Flats / Multi Family

Ownership Details: The house was converted into six homes in the 1990s.

House Open to Public: No

Historic Houses Member: No