Burghley House

I joined Daffers for the trip to Burghley House. The grounds are staggering. We must have walked for half an hour through parklands before we reached the House itself.

I decided to leave the more ornate gardens for my next visit. It was a long walk back to the hotel and no benches for our weary legs.

The first Lord Burghley must have made some money.

His father was on the Tudor side at Bosworth Field and the family became minor courtiers. Son William Burghley was a lawyer and highly competent administrator who became senior advisor, Privy Councillor and Treasurer of Elizabeth 1.

Through his first wife Mary Cheke the Marquesses of Exeter line followed and by his second Milly the Salisburys who were active and influential in politics till Suez.

The most famous Exeter was the eighth Marquess a notable hurdler who organised the 1948 ‘Austerity’ Olympic Games in London.

After a long walk we arrived at the house which has magnificent state rooms and sculptured gardens which only reinforced the notion of great wealth and power.

Having previously visited Stourhead, Chatsworth and Arundel Castle, Burghley House ranks amongst them and like Arundel it has its very own cricket ground and club.

Unlike the châteaux of the Loire valley, they all have interesting interiors of art, furniture and tapestry. Even the legendary Taj Majal is bare inside.

Well worth a visit.