Knebworth House

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Knebworth House
Hertfordshire

Knebworth House
Location
Grid reference: TL230208
Location: 51°52’22"N, 0°12’53"W
Village: Old Knebworth
History
Country house
Information
Owned by: The Earl of Lytton
Website: Knebworth House

Knebworth House is a country house at Old Knebworth in Hertfordshire, a village which was created for ther purposes of the estate. It is just outside the uninspiring industrial outskirts of Stevenage but thankfully free of their influence.

The house is the seat of the Earl of Lytton, whose family have owned Knebworth since the fifteenth century

Today’s house is a Regency century mansion, and is a Grade II* listed building.[1]

History and description

The home of the Lytton family since 1490, when Thomas Bourchier sold the reversion of the manor to Sir Robert Lytton, Knebworth House was originally a red-brick Late Gothic manor house, built round a central court as an open square. In 1813-16 the house was reduced to its west wing,[2] which was remodelled in a Tudor Gothic style by John Biagio Rebecca for Mrs Bulwer-Lytton,[3] and then was transformed in 1843-45 by Henry Edward Kendall Jr. into the present Tudor Gothic structure.[4] In 1913-1914 it was leased by Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich of Russia and his morganatic wife Natalia Brasova.[5] Its most famous resident was Edward Bulwer-Lytton, the Victorian author, dramatist and statesman, who embellished the gardens in a formal Italianate fashion. Much of the interior was redesigned by Sir Edwin Lutyens, who simplified the main parterre. A herb garden in an interlaced quincunx design was drawn by Gertrude Jekyll in 1907 but not planted until 1982.

The house today

The current residents are Henry Lytton-Cobbold and his family. The house is opened to the public together with its surrounding gardens and park. In the park is the mediæval St Mary's Church and the Lytton family mausoleum.

The house is a busy place: the entrepreneurial Earl has put the estate to work with many public events and static attractions

Since 1974, Knebwitrth has been famous for major open air rock and pop concerts with internationally known names playing.[6]

The grounds include tourist attractions such as an adventure playground, mini railway (closed in 2012) and dinosaur park and host various events including classic car rallies, the annual Salvo Fair of architectural salvage.

Radio and cinema

Local radio station 106 Jack FM Hertfordshire broadcasts from the old pump house, which provided water for the house.

Numerous films have been shot at Knebworth, including:

  • Anastasia (1956) - Palace of the Empress
  • Decline and Fall... of a Birdwatcher (1968)
  • Horror Hospital (1973)
  • Keep It Up Downstairs (1976) - filmed entirely on location as the fictitious 'Cockshute Towers'
  • The Big Sleep (1978) - General Sternwood's country mansion
  • The Great Muppet Caper (1980) - exterior of the Mallory Gallery
  • Sir Henry at Rawlinson End (1980) - interior and exterior
  • The Shooting Party (1985) - filmed entirely on location
  • Haunted Honeymoon (1986) - exterior of the home
  • Porterhouse Blue (1987) - interior and exterior of the home of Sir Cathcart D'Eath
  • ''The Lair of the White Worm (1988) - exterior of the D'Ampton mansion
  • Batman (1989) - exterior scenes of Bruce Wayne's manor
  • The Canterville Ghost (1996)
  • Sacred Flesh (1999) - exterior scenes of the convent
  • Jane Eyre (1997) - Thornfield Hall
  • Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (2004) - some scenes in and around the grounds
  • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) - Yule Ball Staircase Scene
  • St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold - (2009) used as the St.Trinian's all girl school.
  • Jonathan Creek - the location of Metropolis in the 2008 Christmas Special.
  • The King's Speech (2010) - Balmoral Party and other scenes
  • The Hour (2011) - Lord Elms residence
  • The Scapegoat (2012) - significant interior and exterior scenes
  • Midsomer Murders Series 15 Episode 1 (The Dark Rider) - significant exterior scenes.
Lytton Mausoleum

Outside links

 ("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Knebworth House)

References

  1. ↑ National Heritage List 1102767: Knebworth House
  2. ↑ 'Parishes: Knebworth' – A History of the County of Hertford - Volume : {{{2}}} (Victoria County History)
  3. ↑ Colvin, Howard (1995) A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840, 3rd ed. New Haven: Yale University Press, s.v. "John Biagio Rebecca".
  4. ↑ Colvin, Howard (1995) A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840, 3rd ed. New Haven: Yale University Press, s.v. "Henry Edward Kendall", note.
  5. ↑ Donald Crawford, The Last Tsar: Emperor Michael II (Kindle Location 630.) Murray McLellan. Kindle Edition
  6. ↑ "Knebworth: The Stately Home of Rock". Knebworth House.com
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