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).

House Listed: Demolished

Park Listed: Not Listed

Past Seat / Home 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