Welcome to Stately Homes

Burton Agnes Hall is a home of immense charm and character. Opened to the public in 1949 by Marcus Wickham-Boynton, it has many unusual features and is fortunate in suffering so little from alterations or additions in its history. It remains to this day a prime example of Elizabethan architecture at its height.

Throughout his life he collected modern paintings, bronzes, furniture and porcelain to enhance the beauty of this lovely Elizabethan house with its marvellous seventeenth-century carving. He also undertook many restorations, the most notable of which was the complete conservation of the Long Gallery. Between 1951 - 1974 this involved recreating in two stages the elaborately plastered barrel ceiling to as nearly as possible its original condition, making a wonderful setting for the meeting of two cultures, with Elizabethan style and an impressive collection of English and French Impressionist paintings, including works by Corot, Matisse, Derain, Pissaro, Renoir and many other notable artists.

Following his death in 1989, the responsibility of caring for the house came to Simon Cunliffe-Lister and, in carrying on his tradition, working with his mother Susan, he redeveloped the walled garden and also commissioned some of today's most innovative craftsmen to make pieces for the Hall - John Makepeace's gallery seat, Kaffe Fassett's tapestry, Janet Haigh's embroidery, Rupert Till's topiary balustrade and much more.

He and his family very clearly feel that our heritage is part of the present as well as the past. Perhaps this is why the main charm of the house has always remained that it is a loved and lived-in home, and they hope that you will feel this and spend many enjoyable hours there.

The Elizabethan magnificence of Burton Agnes Hall itself is surrounded by lawns and topiary yew bushes and beautiful award winning gardens. The eastern aspect of the house highlights a classical pond with beautiful fountains and a newly created pebble mosaic.

To the right of the house lies an Elizabethan walled garden, home to over 3000 different plants, a potager of herbs and vegetables, fruit beds, herbaceous borders, a jungle garden, more than four thousand plant species and even a maze! Contained within the walled garden is also the National Collection of campanulas, a fantastic knot garden with colour themed gardens and giant board games. Nobody was surprised when the highly prized Historic Houses Association Garden of the Year Award came their way in 2005.

To the rear of the Hall is the earlier Manor House, Grade 1 Listed and dating from 1173, which, despite its incomplete condition, is also open to the public. Specialist shops offer plants, dried flowers and herbs from the surrounding estate, gifts and local farm produce, together with an Impressionists’ Café full of patisserie indulgence and an ice cream parlour as well as freshly prepared and tasty meals. There are giant board games in the gardens for the young (and sometimes the not so young).

Railway buffs will be delighted to know that a Hall Class railway engine. No.6998 was named after Burton Agnes. Built in early 1949 it completed its work in 1966 and is now a beautifully preserved but stationary exhibit at the Didcot Railway Centre. The opportunities provided by events has been firmly taken on board at Burton Agnes Hall, and every year there is a rich crop of annual favourites, interspersed with some one-offs, making for ongoing interest and developing a new relationship between the Hall and a wider public.

Amongst other attractions expect to find the Red Bus Gallery, presenting works by local artists in a London Routemaster bus, superb Woodland walks and a Children’s’ playground with guinea pigs of the four legged variety.

Considering its importance (Simon Jenkins put the Hall in his personal Top 20 English houses, saying “it’s the perfect English house”, placing it alongside Chatsworth, Windsor Castle and Blenheim Palace) the management is remarkably far sighted in its charges. Visitors are happy not to feel a sharp intake of breath coming over them when these are mentioned. Many go further and rate it as excellent value for such an outstanding day’s pleasure.

For further details, do visit their Website.

Opening Times - 2010:

Cafe, shops and gardens open for Snowdrops: 6th - 28th February: daily, 11 am - 4 pm
Cafe, shops and gardens open for Orchid weekend: 6th - 28th February: daily, 11 am - 4 pm
Hall, cafe, shops and gardens: 1st April – 31st October: daily, 11 am - 5 pm
Hall, cafe, shops and gardens: 14th November – 22nd December: for Christmas daily, 11 am - 5 pm

1st November- 13th November: Closed

Admission Prices - 2010:

House & Gardens:
Adult - £7
Child - £3.50
Concession - £6.50

Gardens only:
Adult - £4
Child - £2.50
Concession - £3.50

Groups (30+) - 10% discount.