A Chapter of Architectural History Goes to Auction The Great Stair & Library at Burley on the Hill
One of the most extraordinary portions of Rutland’s finest historic estate is set to go under the hammer. The Great Stair & Library, forming the architectural heart of the Grade I Listed Burley on the Hill mansion near Oakham (LE15 7FH), presents a rare opportunity to acquire a palatial 12,083 sq ft residence set within 67 acres of meticulously maintained parkland.
Offering sweeping southern views across the historic Deer Park toward Rutland Water, this grand home encompasses the original State Rooms and celebrated baroque treasures that famously survived a devastating early 20th-century fire.
At a Glance Property Highlights
Grandeur & Scale: Approximately 12,083 sq ft (1,123 sq m) of interior space arranged across four floors.
Historic Highlights: Features the original double-height Great Stair with 18th-century baroque murals by Gerard Lanscroon, alongside the original State Rooms and grand Library.
Accommodation: Seven bedrooms, six bathrooms, grand reception rooms (including the Green Drawing Room and Red Dining Room), an impressive vaulted Kitchen/Breakfast Room, and a shared Garden Saloon and Tapestry Hall.
Parkland & Grounds: Access to approximately 67 acres of professionally maintained grounds, historic deer park, and pedestrian rights across the adjacent 500-acre Burley Wood.
Additional Assets: Garaging for four cars (~811 sq ft) and potential to divide the residence into two substantial ~6,000 sq ft properties.
Tenure & Service: Freehold, offered vacant. Maintenance of common areas, colonnades, Cour d'Honneur, and terraces covered via an annual service charge (~£15,000).
Over 900 Years of Royal and Noble History
The hilltop site at Burley on the Hill carries a rich legacy documented as far back as the Domesday Book of 1086. Over the centuries, it hosted English monarchs and influential historic figures:
1603–1620s: King James VI of Scotland stayed at Burley on his progress south to become King James I of England. Later, the estate was acquired by George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, who hosted King Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria.
Civil War Devastation: During the English Civil War, Parliamentarian forces garrisoned at Burley set fire to the mansion in 1644 to prevent Royalist capture, leaving only the eastern stables intact.
The Finch Reconstruction: In 1694, Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham, acquired the estate and commenced a monumental 30-year rebuilding program in the grand Palladian style (with ceiling contributions attributed to Sir Christopher Wren). The project ultimately cost over £80,000—a sum so vast it forced Finch to sell his London residence, Kensington House, to King William III.
The Masterpiece Murals & The Great Fire of 1908
Between 1708 and 1712, Daniel Finch commissioned Flemish master Gerard Lanscroon famed for his work at Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace to paint baroque trompe l'oeil murals across the Great Stair and Ball Room. Lanscroon decorated the soaring double-height hall (with ceilings reaching nearly 40 feet) with scenes depicting the story of Perseus and Andromeda, alongside Mars, Juno, and Pegasus.
In 1908, a disastrous fire broke out during a high-society gathering attended by a young Winston Churchill. While the blaze gutted much of the mansion's western wing, The Great Stair and Library miraculously escaped unharmed. To this day, Lanscroon’s vibrant wall and ceiling murals remain intact and stand as a centerpiece of the residence.
Layout and Floor Plan Overview
Converted in the 1990s by historic property specialist Kit Martin into vertical freehold homes, The Great Stair & Library remains the largest and grandest section of the estate.
| Ground Floor | Shared entrance via Tapestry Hall. Enters the double-height Great Stair, Library (with Adam-style mantelpiece & mahogany bookcases), Green Drawing Room (with lift access to all floors), Red Dining Room, and shared Garden Saloon. |
| Lower Ground | Reached via private steps or internal lift. Features a stone-vaulted hall with a massive fireplace (salvaged from Buckingham's 17th-century house), stone-vaulted Kitchen / Breakfast Room with commercial range, family room, guest bedroom suite, utility, and direct access to a private terrace. |
| First Floor | Galleried Landing over the staircase, State Bedroom with marble fireplace and mezzanine clothes closet, Purple Sitting Room, Marble Room, and shared Ball Room. |
| Second Floor | Five double bedrooms (including three en-suites), additional family bathroom, upper gallery overlooking the Ball Room, and skylight access to the flat roof. |
Parkland, Deer Park, and Location
Surrounding the residence are 67 acres of shared, manicured parkland featuring the historic deer park where red and fallow deer roam. The front courtyard hosts the Cour d'Honneur and one of Britain's oldest cricket pitches, laid out by Thomas Lord.
Situated just 2 miles east of the market town of Oakham and 10 miles from Stamford, the property blends country seclusion with excellent connections:
Transport: Direct train services from Oakham reach London St Pancras in ~90 minutes, while nearby Peterborough offers 45-minute connections to London King's Cross.
Education: Prime access to top-tier independent schooling including Oakham, Uppingham, Oundle, Maidwell Hall, and Witham Hall.
Leisure: Moments from Rutland Water for trout fishing, sailing, and birdwatching, alongside world-class golf at Luffenham Heath and Greetham Valley.
Auction & Viewing Details
Joint Auctioneers: Savills Stamford (James Abbott:
07929 022901/01780 484 696) & Savills Country Department (Barclay Macfarlane:07779 905904/0207 075 2806).Viewing: Strictly by appointment via Savills.
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