Burton Agnes Hall

Burton Agnes Hall was another place I chose to stop and explore on my way to the East Coast. Built between 1598 and 1610 by Sir Henry Griffith, this Elizabethan manor house has belonged to the same family line for over 400 years. It was designed by the Master Mason to Elizabeth I, Robert Smythson, who also built Longleat and Hardwick Hall. The present generation of the family, the Cunliffe-Listers, still live there, at least some of the time. I like country houses that are still lived in. They have a different feel, warm and welcoming, often full of family treasures. Simon Cunliffe-Lister is a keen saxophonist and hosts an annual jazz festival in the grounds. The family have also continued to collect contemporary art to add to the house's collections.