Wilton House

The 17th Earl of Pembroke and his family live in Wilton House which has been their ancestral home for 450 years. In 1544 Henry VIII gave the Abbey and lands of Wilton to Sir William Herbert who had married Anne Parr, sister of Katherine, sixth wife of King Henry. The Clock Tower, in the centre of the east front, is reminiscent of this part of the Tudor building which survived a fire in 1647. Inigo Jones and John Webb were responsible for the rebuilding of the house in the Palladian style, whilst further alterations were made by James Wyatt from 1801. The chief architectural features are the magnificent 17th century state apartments (including the famous Single and Double Cube rooms) and the 19th century cloisters. The house contains one of the finest art collections in Europe, with over 230 original paintings on display, including works by Van Dyck, Rubens, Joshua Reynolds and Brueghel. Also on show are Greek and Italian statuary, a lock of Queen Elizabeth I's hair, Napoleon's despatch case, and Florence Nightingale's sash. The visitor centre houses a dynamic introductory film (narrated by Anna Massey), the reconstructed Tudor kitchen and the Estate's Victorian laundry. It provides a home for the `Wareham Bears', an exhibition of some 200 miniature costumed teddy bears with their own house, stables and other scenes. 21 acres of landscaped parkland, water and old English rose gardens, Palladian Bridge and adventure playground. Historic Houses Association Member. OPENING TIMES SUMMER: 27 Mar - 31 October (House closed: 21-23 May) Daily: 10.30am - 5.30pm Last admission 4.30pm. Winter: Closed, except for private parties by prior arrangement