Euston Hall

Featured Property

Euston Hall Description

Euston first appears in the Domesday Book in 1087 as a manor belonging to the Abbey at Bury St Edmunds. There was a manor house here throughout the Middle Ages and in 1578 Elizabeth I stayed here with the Rookwood family on her way to Norwich.

The Estate, in near ruin, was purchased in 1666 by Henry Bennet, Earl of Arlington and Secretary of State to the newly-restored King, Charles II. He set out to build a grand house in the French style, built around a central court with large pavilions on each corner. Charles II paid the first of several visits to Euston in 1671. John Evelyn, the diarist, was amongst the large court that accompanied the King, and he described the new Euston Hall as magnificent and commodious . . . splendidly furnished.

The property was inherited in 1685 by his daughter and son-in-law, the first Duke and Duchess of Grafton. In about 1750 their son, the Second Duke, decided to re-model the house and employed Matthew Brettingham who succeeded William Kent in designing Holkham Hall in Norfolk. The domes at Euston were replaced by the low pyramid roofs you see today, and some of the house was refaced.

So it remained mostly unchanged until a disastrous fire in 1902 which destroyed the south and west wings and sadly the fine Verrio ceilings. These wings were soon rebuilt on the same plan but became unmanageable and were pulled down by the tenth Duke in 1952. The original north wing remains and contains a unique collection of paintings of the Court of Charles II, including works by Van Dyck and Lely. For further information, visit their Website.

Opening Times - 2012

The Hall has been open to the public during the summer for over 30 years, but unfortunately is NOT OPEN DURING 2012 due to repairs and restoration work being carried out. However, it is hoped that 2013 will see the Hall and gardens open to visitors again.

More information on the garden can be found on The Gardens Guide.