Kirby Hall

Earlier Houses: There was an earlier house on, or near, the site of the current house.

Built / Designed For: Sir Humphrey Stafford, Jr. and Sir Christopher Hatton I

House & Family History: Kirby Hall was begun in 1570 by Sir Humphrey Stafford, a courtier at the court of Queen Elizabeth I, who likely based his house on designs in French architectural pattern books. Sir Humphrey's monumental house far outstripped his insignificant position at court and he sold Kirby, unfinished, to Sir Christopher Hatton, lord chancellor to Elizabeth I, who completed the house in grand style in 1583. A stone house constructed on a quadrangle, Kirby was enlarged and altered in the 17th century and was one of the first buildings in England to employ Renaissance principles of classical architecture. In the 19th century the house was abandoned and fell into a decline from which it never recovered. Interior fittings were removed and installed in neighboring houses, lead was stripped from the roof, and the very fabric of the house—its stone—was carted off to build houses and to repair roads. Kirby is today a partial ruin (only a small portion is roofed). The H.H. Wills Physics Laboratory at the University of Bristol, designed by Oatley & Lawrence 1921-27, is closely modeled on Kirby Hall. Queen Anne of Denmark stayed at Kirby on August 9, 1605; her husband, James I, visited for three days in August of 1616.

Comments: Kirby, a leading and early example of the Elizabethan prodigy house, is considered one of England's greatest 16th century houses.

Architect: Nicholas Stone

Date: 1638-40
Designed: Remodeled north facade for Sir Christopher Hatton III

View all houses

Architect: Inigo Jones

Date of Birth: 1573
Date of Death: 1652
Nationality: English
Notes: One of the most important British architects of the last three centuries, Jones was the first significant British architect of the early modern period and the first to employ Vitruvian rules of proportion and symmetry in his buildings. Most famous for introducing the classical Palladian style of architecture into England during the reign of James I (Jones was entranced by Palladio and bought a large number of his drawings), Jones began his career in the theater, where was responsible for staging over 500 performances. He frequently collaborated with Ben Jonson and is credited with introducing movable scenery and the proscenium arch to English theater. He also achieved fame in his pre-architecture life a designer of lavish masques for the Court, for which he is still remembered today. Jones was born in London of Welsh parents (his father was a cloth worker) and trained as a carpenter. Undeniably a man of genius, he was probably the greatest British architect of the 17th century (he was described by a contemporary as "our Kingdome's most Artfull and Ingenious Architect"). Jones was Surveyor-General of the King's Works from 1615 until the beginning of the Civil War in 1642, during which he worked continuously on the royal residences. When the Civil War erupted Jones found himself in a compromising position; he was identified with the Court, most specifically with the Catholic Queen, Henrietta Maria, for whom he performed much work. In the new world dominated by Oliver Cromwell, this was seen as unpatriotic or treasonous; the Parliamentarians seized his property and fined him heavily. He never recovered from the Civil War and, in 1652, he died at Somerset House, a broken and poverty-stricken man.

Date: 1638-40
Designed: Alterations and additions for Sir Christopher Hatton III
(Attribution of this work is uncertain)
View all houses

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: 2.S. Vol. III, 1826.

Country Life: XX, 558, 1906.

Title: Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, A - HARDBACK
Author: Colvin, Howard
Year Published: 2008
Reference: pg. 991
Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
ISBN: 9780300125085
Book Type: Hardback

Title: Pevsner Architectural Guides: Bristol
Author: Foyle, Andrew; Cherry, Bridget
Year Published: 2004
Reference: pg. 243
Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
ISBN: 0300104421
Book Type: Softback

Title: V&A Guide to Period Styles: 400 Years of British Art and Design, The
Author: Jackson, Anna; Hinton, Morna
Year Published: 2002
Reference: pg. 15
Publisher: London: V&A Publications
ISBN: 0810965909
Book Type: Hardback

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Grade II*

"Civilisation" (1969 - BBC TV series, episode 6, "Protest and Communication"). "Mansfield Park" (1999). "A Christmas Carol" (1999 - as Scrooge's school). "A History of Britain" (2000 - TV documentary series). "Tristram Shandy: A Cock & Bull Story" (2005). "Antiques Roadshow" (2014 - TV series).

Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSE: Sir Humphrey Stafford, Sr. 1542-48; Sir Humphrey Stafford, Jr., 1548-70. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: Sir Humphrey Stafford, Jr. of Blatherwick, 1572-74. Sir Christopher Hatton I, 1575-91; Sir Christopher Hatton II, 1591-1619; Sir Christopher Hatton III, 1st Baron Hatton, 1619-70; Sir Christopher Hatton IV, 1st Viscount Hatton, 1670-1706; Hatton family here until 1764. Finch-Hattons, 1764

Current Ownership Type: Other

Primary Current Ownership Use: Visitor Attraction

Ownership Details: Owned by the Earl of Winchilsea and managed and maintained by English Heritage.

House Open to Public: Yes

Phone: 01536-203-230

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk

Historic Houses Member: No

House, Family & Collections History

Architects

Historic Publications References

Bibliography / Reading List for this House

Listings for House & Park

Location for Film & TV

Families Who’ve Lived Here / Current Ownership Type & Use

Access

VISIT AND HELP PRESERVE HISTORIC BRITISH HOUSES