Kirby Hall

Kirby Hall is an Elizabethan country house, located near Gretton, Northamptonshire, England. (Nearest town being Corby). Kirby was owned by Sir Christopher Hatton, Lord Chancellor to Queen Elizabeth I. It is a leading and early example of the Elizabethan prodigy house. Construction on the building began in 1570 based on the designs in French architectural pattern books and expanded in the classical style over the course of the decades. The house is now in a semi-ruined state with many parts roof-less although the Great Hall and state rooms remain intact. The gardens with their elaborate ‘cutwork’ design complete with statues and urns have been recently restored.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirby Hall