The entrance (north) facade from an 1836 engraving
The entrance (north) facade in 2024. Photo by kind permission of Caroline Knight.
Detail of the entrance facade. Photo by kind permission of Caroline Knight.
The south facade
King John's Tower
This portrait was purchased by the 3rd Duke of Ancaster for Grimsthorpe Castle
This chair was part of a suite purchased by the 3rd Duke of Ancaster for Grimsthorpe Castle
Portrait of Elizabeth and Thomas Linley by Thomas Gainsborough, circa 1768. Today in the collection of the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, Massachusetts. This image is in the public domain.
House & Family History: In 1944 Grimsthorpe Castle housed a company of the RAF Parachute Regiment while it was training for what became Operation Market Garden.
Collections: The collection includes paintings by van Dyck and Reynolds, a life-size portrait of James I after Van Somer, and circa 1730 yellow Soho tapestries woven by Joshua Morris for Sir Gilbert Heathcote, lord mayor of London. The tapestries were made for the state bedroom of Sir Gilbert's country house, Normanton Park, Rutland, and came to Grimsthorpe in 1924, with much furniture and pictures, after the demolition of Normanton, another of the family's seats. A set of four 18th century French armchairs (see "Images" section) purchased by the 3rd Duke of Ancaster for Grimsthorpe, are today in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The set (originally one of six chairs and two settees) was originally covered in Gobelins tapestries after designs by Francois Boucher. The 3rd Duke also purchased a 1640 portrait of Herman Doomer by Rembrandt that is today also in the collection of the Met (see "Images").
Comments: Grimsthorpe is considered one of Vanbrugh's most important last works.
Garden & Outbuildings: On August 5, 1778, Thomas Linley the Younger drowned at the age of 22 in the lake on the Grimsthorpe Estate. Often called "the English Mozart," Linley the Younger is considered one of the most important composers to have ever come out of England. Brought up in a musical family from Bath (see "Images" section for the famous Gainsborough portrait of him with his sister Elizabeth, a talented singer), Linley the Younger was also one of the best violin virtuosos in Britain. During World War I the park was used by the Royal Flying Corps as an emergency landing field. During World War II part of the park was used as a bombing range by the Royal Air Force. The grounds today contain 3,000 acres of landscaped park within an estate of 13,000 acres, encompassing 200 houses and 20 farms.
Architect: Henry Garling
Date: 1811Architect: John Vanbrugh
Date: 1722-26 & 1729-30Vitruvius Britannicus: C. III, pls. 11-14, 1725.
John Bernard (J.B.) Burke, published under the title of A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. II, p. 57, 1853.
John Preston (J.P.) Neale, published under the title of Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. II, 1819.
Country Life: CIV, 272, corr. 351. LV, 572, 614, 650. LIX, 429.
Title: Grimsthorpe Castle Guidebook
Author: Knox, Tim
Year Published: 1996
Publisher: Lincolnshire: The Grimsthorpe and Drummond Castle Trust
ISBN: 0952794500
Book Type: Light Softback
Title: Country Life Cumulative Index: Volumes I to CXCIII to December 1999
Author: NA
Year Published: 2000
Publisher: London: IPC Magazines Limited
ISBN: NA
Book Type: Light Softback
Title: Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, A - HARDBACK
Author: Colvin, Howard
Year Published: 2008
Reference: pgs. 410, 765, 1073, 1139
Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
ISBN: 9780300125085
Book Type: Hardback
House Listed: Grade I
Park Listed: Grade I
Current Seat / Home of: Nancy Jane Marie Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 28th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby
Past Seat / Home of: Francis Lovell, 9th Baron Lovell, 6th Baron Holand, and 1st Viscount Lovell, until 1487. William Willoughby, 11th Baron Willoughby de Eresby, 1516-26. Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk and 1st Viscount Lisle, until 1545. Richard Bertie, until 1582; Peregrine Bertie, 13th Baron Willoughby de Eresby, 1582-1601; Robert Bertie, 1st Earl of Lindsey, 1601-42; Montagu Bertie, 2nd Earl of Lindsey, 1642-66; Robert Bertie, 3rd Earl of Lindsey, 1666-1701; Robert Bertie, 4th Earl of Lindsey, 17th Baron Willoughby de Eresby, and 1st Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven, 1701-23; Peregrine Bertie, 2nd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven, 1723-42; General Peregrine Bertie, 3rd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven, 1742-78; Robert Bertie, 4th Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven, 1778-79. Peter Burrell, 1st Baron Gwydyr, until 1820; Peter Robert Drummond-Burrell, 2nd Baron Gwydyr, 22nd Baron Willoughby de Eresby, 1820-65; Albyric Drummond-Willoughby, 3rd Baron Gwydyr, 23rd Baron Willoughby de Eresby, 1865-70; Clementina Elizabeth Drummond-Willoughby, 24th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby, 1870-88; Gilbert Henry Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 25th Baron Willoughby de Eresby, 2nd Baron Aveland, and 1st Earl of Ancaster, 1888-1910; Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 2nd Earl of Ancaster, 1910-51; Gilbert James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Ancaster, 1951-83.
Current Ownership Type: Charity / Nonprofit
Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home
Ownership Details: Owned by Grimsthorpe and Drummond Castle Trust Limited
House Open to Public: Yes
Phone: 01778-591-205
Fax: 01778-591-259
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.grimsthorpe.co.uk/
Historic Houses Member: Yes