Wilton House

The Abbey and lands of Wilton were given to Sir William Herbert, by Henry VIII in 1544 after the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Sir William, later 1st Earl of Pembroke, had married Ann Parr sister of Katherine, sixth wife of Henry VIII.

The Herberts, Earls of Pembroke have lived here ever since.

The Clock Tower in the east wing is only remnant of the original Tudor building which was mostly destroyed by a fire in 1647. The architect Inigo Jones and his nephew John Webb rebuilt the house in the Palladian style. Further alterations were made by John Wyatt from 1801.

The main architectural features of the house are the splendid 17th century state apartments and in particular the Single and Double Cube Rooms designed by Inigo Jones. These have magnificent painted ceilings, gilded plasterwork and fine furniture. All the paintings in the Double and Single Cube rooms are by Van Dyck or from his studio.

The Colonnade Room houses many paintings by Sir Joshua Reynolds.

Witon's collection of paintings is one of the finest in Europe and also includes works by Rubens, and Brugel.

In addition, there is a display of Greek and Italian statutary. The Gothic hall and upper cloisters are part of the work completed in the early 19th century by James Wyatt.

The old riding school has been converted into the Exhibition Hall showing the lives of the Earls of Pembroke. There is also a reconstructed Tudor kitchen and Victorian laundry.

21 acres of landscaped parkland, with water gardens and a fine Palladian Bridge of 1737. In addition, there is a old English rose garden and an adventure playground.

Opening arrangements can change please call to check.