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Houghton Hall and Gardens is now closed until Spring 2027
A timeline of history and
the lives that shaped it
1720 — 1918:
Palladian grandeur and a legacy of transition
1676
Sir Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford and first de facto British Prime Minister. Born in 1676, inheriting in 1700 and dying in 1745, it was he who conceived, built and furnished Houghton Hall.
1720
Sir Robert Walpole inherited the earlier Walpole family house and its associated 17,000-acre estate in 1700. He had commissioned some upgrades, but in 1720, bolstered by growing political confidence and increased resources, he envisioned the rebuilding of Houghton on a much grander scale, and in1722 the foundation stone of the new house was laid.
1722 - 1735
The design of the house was a collaboration between the two defining British architects of the age – Colen Campbell and James Gibbs, with Thomas Ripley overseeing construction. The lavish interiors were conceived by William Kent. Houghton was built with an eye to reflecting the wealth, taste, and power of its owner. Completed within the remarkably short space of thirteen years, between 1722 and 1735, Houghton Hall remains one of England’s finest examples of Palladian style architecture.
1730's
Walpole was only able to visit Houghton twice a year. In the Autumn he hosted extravagant hunting parties with the local gentry and his fellow Whig politicians. These meetings became known as the Norfolk Congresses. Houghton was intended to house the majority of Walpole’s collection of paintings, as well as bronzes and antiquities. When he fell from power in 1741, he brought the remainder of his collection from 10 Downing Street to Norfolk, converting the Orangery in the North Wing into a top-lit gallery.
1745 - 1779
Upon Sir Robert's death in 1745, ownership passed to his son, the 2nd Earl of Orford, who faced significant debts. The estate continued to decline over the four decades of the 3rd Earl's ownership, ultimately leading to the sale of his grandfather's remarkable art collection to Catherine the Great in 1778. The collection now resides in the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg.
1779 - 1820
Following the 3rd Earl's death in 1779, his elderly uncle, Horace Walpole, the 4th Earl Orford, along with his sister's grandson, George Cholmondeley (4th Earl then 1st Marquess of Cholmondeley and Horace's chosen heir), worked to revitalise the estate and settle most of the mortgages. Additionally, Lord Cholmondeley purchased all the furniture at Houghton for £10,000, preventing it from being sold off.
1790 - 1919
The house saw no improvements beyond the late 1790s, despite the Victorian trend for remodelling and redecoration. During the majority of the 19th century, the family primarily focused on renovating Cholmondeley Castle in Cheshire, their ancestral seat, where they resided. Their visits to Houghton were mainly for shooting purposes. Houghton was frequently on the market, and was rented out to a succession of tenants from 1884 to 1916. It wasn't until 1919, when the 5th Marquess and his wife took residence, that Houghton came back to life.
1990 - Present Day
Contemporary Art and Future Perspectives
1990 onwards
David, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, succeeded in 1990, and carried out a major renovation of the house, including plumbing and electricity. The Walled Gardens were replanted in memory of his grandmother, Lady Sybil, and were opened to the public in 1996. Further planting has been carried out on the West Front to put back the original 18th century scheme.
2009
Lord Cholmondeley married Rose Hanbury in 2009. They live at Houghton with their three children, and continue the process of restoring the house and its collections.
2013
"Houghton Revisited" was a significant art exhibition held at Houghton Hall in 2013. It recreated the original art collection assembled by Sir Robert Walpole in the 18th century, temporarily bringing back masterpieces such as Rembrandt, Rubens, and Van Dyck from the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. The exhibition aimed to showcase the artworks in their original setting, offering a rare historical experience for visitors.
2015
Since 2015, Houghton has hosted major exhibitions of contemporary art and sculpture: James Turrell (2015), Richard Long (2017); Damian Hirst (2018): Henry Moore (2019); Anish Kapoor (2020);Tony Cragg (2022); Sean Scully (2023). The House and Gardens warmly welcome the public from April to September. In 2024, visitors will be able to see solo exhibitions by Antony Gormley and Magdalene Odundo.
1919 — 1990:
Restoration and Renewal
1913 - 1939
In 1913, The Earl of Rocksavage (future 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley) married Sybil, daughter of Sir Edward Sassoon. Her mother was born Aline de Rothschild, of the french banking dynasty. The couple moved in to Houghton after the Great War with their three children and ‘Rock’ inherited the title on his father’s death in 1923. They accomplished a great deal over the next few decades, restoring both the State and private rooms, renewing the lead on the roof, and planting thousands of trees in the park and surrounding country.
Sybil Sassoon
Sybil Sassoon (1894-1989), Lady Cholmondeley, was a friend of artists, writers, musicians, and sportsmen; as well as politicians such as Winston Churchill and Lord Curzon. She was painted by J.S. Sargent and William Orpen and drove Bugatti cars in the Monte Carlo Rally. She helped to found the Womens Royal Naval Service (WRENS) during the Great War and played a significant role in the service during the Second World War.
War Years
The main house was not requisitioned during the war, although the stables housed a succession of military units, and an airfield for American bombers was built on Houghton land. After the war, a collection of 18 th century furniture that had belonged to Sir Philip Sassoon (Lady Sybil’s brother), was brought into the house.
Post War
Lady Sybil continued to play a key role in Houghton’s restoration. After her husband’s death in 1966, she rebuilt the flight of steps on the West front (which had been pulled down in the late 18th Century) in his memory. In 1977 the house was opened to the public for the first time. Lady Sybil’s son, Hugh, 6th Marquess, continued to live at Cholmondeley Castle in Cheshire with his wife, Lavinia, and their 4 children. When Houghton was opened, he sent his unique collection of model soldiers (around 20,000 figures) to be displayed in the old Picture Gallery.
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