Built / Designed For: Thomas B. Colby

House & Family History: Sir John Suckling, secretary of state under James I and comptroller of the household of Charles I, purchased Roos Hall in 1600. Sir John is probably most noted today as the father of the renowned Cavalier poet John Suckling, who grew up here. The younger John is the subject of a famous van Dyck portrait (see "Images" section) today in the collection of The Frick Collection. John was a notorious Lothario and gambler (he invented cribbage), but he was also an important poet and playwright. To that end, he had van Dyck paint him holding a copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio. 1638, the year this portrait was probably painted, was also the year John's tragedy, "Aglaura," was first staged. Long after the Estate had left their ownership, the Suckling family bought back Roos in 1945; they sold it again in 1983. Roos is supposedly one of the most haunted houses in England.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Not Listed

Past Seat / Home of: Thomas B. Colby, 16th century. Sir John Suckling, 1600-27; Sir Alexander Temple, 1627-29. Sir Edwin Rich, until 1675.

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home

House Open to Public: No

Historic Houses Member: No