Theobalds (Theobalds Palace) (Old Theobalds Palace) (Cullynges) (Tongs) (Thebaudes) (Tibbolds)

Built / Designed For: William Cecil, 1st Lord Burghley

House & Family History: The manor of Theobalds had a number of earlier names: Cullynges, Tongs, Thebaudes, Tibbolds, and finally Theobalds. Originally surrounded by a moat, the 16th century house was begun in 1564 (enlarged and remodeled in the 1570s) for William Cecil, Queen Elizabeth I's virtual prime minister (the actual office of prime minister wasn't created until the 18th century). The queen favored Cecil, later 1st Lord Burghley, with eight visits to Theobalds between 1572 and 1596. In a now-famous incident, King James I was so taken by Theobalds during his first visit to the house that he persuaded Robert Cecil (his virtual prime minister and William's son) to exchange it for the Palace of Hatfield. Theobalds was virtually demolished during the commonwealth. Though it was rebuilt after the Restoration, the palace never recovered its past magnificence and was eventually demolished. Circa 1765-70, on a site very close to the former Theobalds, four small country houses (Old Palace House, The Cedars, Cecil House, and Jackson's School) were built in an area known as Theobalds Square; none of these survive today. A staircase from the Fountain Court at Theobalds is now at Herstmonceux Castle in Sussex. The only remaining bit of Theobalds standing is a window and one strip of brickwork with stone quoins, 15th feet high, now part of the gardener's cottage of Old Palace House. The current Theobalds Park, today a conference center and hotel, was the home of the Victorian brewing magnate Sir Henry Meux.

Garden & Outbuildings: The formal gardens of William Cecil's Theobalds were modeled after the gardens of the Château de Fontainebleau by Cecil's head gardener, John Gerard. King James I enlarged the park and, in 1620, enclosed the estate with a brick wall nine-and-a-half miles long, fragments of which survive today. The Stableblock and the Banqueting House, both designed by Inigo Jones for James I, were demolished during the commonwealth (circa 1650).

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: 1623-25
Designed: New Stables (1623) and Banqueting House (1625)

View all houses

Title: Buildings of England: Hertfordshire, The
Author: Pevsner, Nikolaus; Cherry, Bridget
Year Published: 2000
Publisher: London: Penguin Books
ISBN: 0140710078
Book Type: Hardback

Title: Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, A - HARDBACK
Author: Colvin, Howard
Year Published: 2008
Reference: pg. 590
Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
ISBN: 9780300125085
Book Type: Hardback

House Listed: Demolished

Park Listed: Not Listed

Past Seat of: William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, 16th century; Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, early 17th century. King James I, early 17th century. George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle, 17th century. William Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland, late 17th century.

Current Ownership Type: Demolished

Primary Current Ownership Use: Demolished

House Open to Public: No

Historic Houses Member: No

Theobalds (Theobalds Palace) (Old Theobalds Palace) (Cullynges) (Tongs) (Thebaudes) (Tibbolds)

House, Family & Collections History

Gardens, Outbuildings, Chapel & Church History

Architects

Bibliography

Listed Information

Seat & Ownership Info

Access