< Previous© Imogen Leahy 30 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HISTORICAL HOUSES paintings by Louis Laguerre. In the famous film, Chariots of Fire, the character of ‘Lindsay’ was based on Lord David George Brownlow Cecil who won many races including the Men’s 400- Metre Hurdles at the Amsterdam games in 1928. Later, born in 1947, it was Lady Victoria Leatham, antiques expert and television personality, who followed her father (Olympic gold medal-winning athlete, IAAF President and MP, David Cecil, the 6th Marquess) in running and renovating the house from 1982-2007. Victoria installed the ‘Olympic corridor’ commemorating her father. Her daughter, Miranda Rock, is now the most active live-in trustee who maintains such iconic displays. Set amongst 13,000 acres of rolling parkland, Burghley House is open to the public on a seasonal basis and a circuit of grand and richly furnished state apartments are open alongside the impressive park laid out by the famous architect and landscaper, Capability Brown, who also created the park’s man- made lake in 1775–80 and designed the impressive Lion Bridge at a cost of 1,000 guineas in 1778. He was paid the impressive, princely sum of £23,000 in total for the park designs at Burghley with Brown’s landscape still being conserved today alongside the planting of 30,000 new trees between 2012-2016. Most of the huge parkland is used to host the famous 5* Burghley 3-Day Event, appealing to horse riders and visitors from all over the world. Despite a number of important pieces being sold due to death duties in the 1960s, the Burghley art collections are still mainly intact and several hundred paintings are displayed throughout the house. Many of these were bought in Italy with John Cecil purchasing 300 © Burghley House © Burghley House Winner Oliver Townend on Ballaghmor Class Bow Room Old Kitchen© Lee Martin LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 31 HISTORICAL HOUSES works of art during his 22 years alone, and spending on his last visit to Europe, £5,000, equating to approximately £700,000 in today’s currency on more art and artefacts. The Pagoda Room is where portraits of the Cecil family, Elizabeth I, Henry VIII, and Oliver Cromwell hang, and the Billiard Room displays six portraits of members of the Order of Little Bedlam, the 5th Earl’s drinking club, which was a gentlemen’s drinking club, founded in 1684 by John Cecil. The club was resurrected in 1705 by his son, John Cecil, 6th Earl of Exeter acting as grand master ‘Lion’, his brother William as ‘Panther’ and brother Charles as ‘Bull’, each member of the club had his portrait painted associated with a particular animal. The venue of the Club was thought to be at “The Bull and Swan” in Stamford but it’s the Billiard Room at Burghley House displaying the six oval portraits of each member of this infamous 5th Earl’s drinking club. Today the Brewhouse presents annually changing exhibitions highlighting aspects of the collections and as well as the annual Burghley Horse Trials the park plays host to the “Burghley Run” for Stamford School and an annual meet for the Cambridge University Draghounds. There is also a sculpture garden around the old ice house which has been created into a “garden of surprises” using traditional ideas of water traps, shell grottos and a mirror maze in a 21st-century style. With approximately 110,000 visitors each year as well as several films and television programmes being filmed there, including Antiques Roadshow, Pride & Prejudice and The Da Vinci Code, Burghley House is still thriving, assuring Lincolnshire today remains a leading county of historical houses and estates. © Burghley House © Burghley House © Burghley House West Front Heaven RoomState Room32 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FASHION Winter wardrobe wonderland Look fabulous this festive season with a new winter wardrobe.LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 33 FASHION Fat Face Warm up this month with new knits and fleeces, as Fat Face does here with a classic fairisle jumper and gilet.34 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FASHION Left: Marc Cain Keep cosy with something chic this December, like this coat from Marc Cain offering the perfect blend of red and green for fashionable festivities. Middle: Aspiga A simple jumper is the ideal, versatile item to have in your wardrobe for winter, such as this cream roll neck piece from Aspiga, enhanced with a strip of navy at the cuff. Right: Oliver Bonas Who doesn’t love a metallic moment? Oliver Bonas’ gold shirt and gold shimmer plisse trousers are sure to help you shine this season. Opposite: Threadbare Sparkle like a ruby in this red sequin velour top from Threadbare with a drop shoulder for extra style points.36 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FASHION Above: Cotton Traders Cosy but classy, this jersey cord midi dress from Cotton Traders with its slouchy cowl neck offers a relaxed fit for effortless style combined with comfort. Top left: Gerry Weber It’s always wise to have a smart, elegant coat in your closet, to throw on for more formal or work occasions. Try this wool coat from Gerry Weber with its on-trend boucle finish. Right: Taifun Layering up a sparkling, striped long knitted waistcoat and matching jumper over leather trousers, Taifun presents a look exuding relaxed glamour. 37 Above: Crew Clothing Crew Clothing pulls together a smart and timeless look here with its check blazer, chunky crew neck cable jumper and cord skirt. Top right: Rebecca Rhoades A party outfit or two are often required at this time of year, and this fashionable, green satin ensemble from Rebecca Rhoades is sure to suit. Right: Joe Browns Joe Browns shows how to perfectly finish off a funky frock, pairing this geo-print dress with a purple leather jacket. Oliver Bonas Oliver Bonas brings extra life to a grey jumper with a sprinkling of unique jewellery. A few accessories can significantly enhance any ensemble. Adding AddingLINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 39 FASHION Crew Clothing Having a pair of black ankle boots in your closet, like these from Crew Clothing, is wise, especially in winter, working well with such a variety of outfits. FACE A FACE Mixing colours and a chic print, bring some excitement to your glasses with these frames from FACE A FACE. Head down to O’Brien’s Opticians in Brigg or visit http://obriensopticians.co.uk/ for your own pair. Joe Browns Bringing a vintage style, these knee-high boots from Joe Browns offer a rich chestnut brown colour and lace up design to be worn over and over. Jessica Flinn Fine Jewellery This emerald cut orange and yellow sapphire ring from Jessica Flinn Fine Jewellery is a statement piece that will help your jewellery stand out. DITA With a chunky, matte black frame, these glasses from DITA are effortlessly stylish. Find this pair, or one similar, at O’Brien’s Opticians in Brigg or http://obriensopticians.co.uk/ Finest Imaginary Ltd Show off your festive spirit with these vintage bauble earrings from Finest Imaginary Ltd, ideal for Christmas jumper day. Audeo Brand This gold and pearl bracelet from Audeo Brand will add some elegant opulence to your look. Fable England This flower- embroidered, black velvet bag from Fable England oozes a romantic elegance while paying homage to the iconic Victorian Reticule. Next >