Building record 1009/1/1 - Althorp House

In 1508 Sir John Spencer acquired a 300-acre estate around Althorp. The house was erected by Sir John, which provides the core for the one seen today, consisted of an enclosed courtyard with projecting wings on the south side; there are no surviving illustrations of this first building. It is presumed to have been unaltered until Dorothy, widowed wife of the First Earl of Sunderland, roofed over the courtyard and installed the grand staircase across the central axis in 1660-62. The house was then constructed of red brick. However, for the well-travelled second Earl of Sunderland it was unfashionable. Between 1730 and 1732 he employed an Italian architect who set about 'classicising' the façade. In 1772 part of the roof fell in and years of neglect were compounded by the first Earl Spencer's prior interest in the construction of his London mansion, Spencer House. Only after his son's accession was an overhaul considered. The architect employed to undertake the work was Henry Holland in 1786-90. Externally, the façade was faced in white mathematical tiles whilst pediments were added to the north and south fronts. For the front entrance new dressings in Roche Abbey stone and pilasters of local Kingsthorpe stone were added. The roof was also lowered and the chimneys rebuilt. Holland also extended the house to the east with offices screened by shrubbery. The present gardens, including the oval pond, were laid out in the 1860s by W.M Teulon. In 1877 the fifth Earl had J. MacVicar Anderson add the State Dining-Room and further alterations where carried out in 1911. Caesar Shaw was an African servant to the Spencer family. He lived here in Althorpe House during the 18th century. It is known that he was baptised in Northampton and was owned by John Spencer. Pictures are often a good resource to illustrate the African presence in Britain and Caesar Shaw is featured in two portraits in Althorp Hall.

{1} Country House. c.1508, for John Spencer, remodelled by Henry Holland 1789. White mathematical tiles with ashlar dressing and slate roof. Originally courtyard, now U-plan. South front: 2 storeys with attic, symmetrical core of 5-window range with flanking wings having vestibule projections. Large ashlar pilasters with Corinthian capitals, between windows of centre range, supporting pediment with entablature. Central entrance with pediment oiler and C19 half-glazed doors. Sash windows with glazing bars have moulded stone heads and surrounds. Hipped roofs, with the exception of the vestibule projections, have dormers with pediments over. Moulded cornice throughout. Lateral and central stacks. Large armorial moulding in pediment. West front similar of 10 bays. North front similar of 10 bays. End and centre 3 bays breaking forward with occulus in pediment over. Central entrance and end flanking sashes have pediments over. C19 single-storey dining room wing by MacVicar Anderson attached to right, centre 3 bays break forward all in similar style to main house. East side has C19 ironstone and slate roofed service wings attached which have been modified in C20. Interior: The Wootton Hall: Central south entrance hall, full height with coffered ceiling, moulded frieze and cornice designed by Colen Campbell and carried out by Roger Morris 1773, four symmetrical entrances, 2 with pediments over, centre internal with broken pediment supported on fluted Corinthian columns. Range of rooms to west originally remodelled by H. Holland, commencing with South Drawing Room which has fireplace, by Lancelot Wood 1802. Ceiling by Broadbent of Leicester 1865, similar ceiling in Rubens Room adjacent to north with chimney piece by Holland made by Deval. The long Library continues north forming a tripartite apartment with screens of Ionic columns and Adam style ceiling. The Marlborough Room occupying the western half of the north front has two fireplaces by John Vardy in Greek revival style and carved by Scheemakers originally at Spencer House in London. The Sunderland Room occupying the eastern half of the north front has its original C17 cornice. 2 fireplaces are by John Vardy and James Stuart respectively from Spencer House. The dining room wing to the north east by MacVicar Anderson is a double cube with coffered ceiling. The small dining room to the east of the Wootton Hall has C17 fireplace and panelling from Wormleighton, a former Spencer house. The Blue Sitting Room at south east end of the east wing has inset blue and white panels by Holland painted by Pernotin transfered.to present location C19. The central courtyard, formed into the saloon and staircase in 1650 has a wide straight flight stair with 2 intermediate landings and short branches to left and right to first floor flanking galleries added by H. Holland. Large oak balusters and handrail. Coffered ceiling with 3 roof lights by MacVicar Anderson. First floor rooms: Chapel in east range has bolection moulded chimney piece by Joshua Marshall, reset armorial glass in windows dated 1588. Range of rooms in north front contain fireplaces by P.C. Hardwick 1850, Repton and Lancelot Wood, some reset. Picture Gallery in western range is of C17 with restored bolection panelling. Chimney piece by James Stuart from Spencer house. Two services stairs in east range have late C17 balusters. (Buildings of England : Northamptonshire, p.78; Raine Countess Spencer, A Short History of Althorp and the Spencer Family 1982).

{7} A £2.5 million restoration programme at Althorp has included renewing its mathematical tiles. These had been placed over its façade to create the impression of brickwork in the enlargement by the architect Henry Holland (1745-1806), hiding the red brick of the earlier 16th century building.
The mathematical tiles are laid in an overlapping pattern, with the thicker, lower section remaining visible and the upper section hidden beneath the row above. Attached to the underlying structure, they are tuckpointed to form a flat surface. For this restoration, tens of thousands of stainless steel fixing pins were inserted before being lime pointed to keep the tiles in place.

{9} Reproduction of a picture of Althorp in 1677 by John Vorsterman.

{10} Anthony Ellis (1620-1671) built and presumably designed Althorp House, as remodelled by the 2nd Earl of Sunderland in 1666-8 and illustrated in Vitruvius Britannicus ii, pls. 95-7; Henry Holland recased the house in white mathematical tiles and remodelled much of the interior 1787-9; in 1772 Sir Robert Taylor undertook repairs after the fall of part of the roof; in 1772 or 1773 John Wagstaff refitted the chapel; Thomas Cundy, the 'Gothic Library' in 1819-20, demolished in 1853;

{11} Undated photo;

{14} Wash drawing of Althorp.

{15} Extract from Justinian Isham's diary describing Althorp House in 1710.

{16} Althorp House in 1810 from a drawing by J.P.Neale engrvaed by J.C. Varrall.

{17} Original Elizabethan house was built of red brick by Sir John Spencer soon after 1508; surrounded by moat and formal gardens. In 1786 the Second Earl Spencer asked Henry Holland to entirely remodel house which by this time was in a poor state of repair. He refaced the exterior with white bricks baked in Ipswich.

{18} Proposed septic tanks to be sited on gentle even slope down from north-west gate of stable block yard. The slope is partly natural and partly formed from upcast of terracing directly to north of stable block. It has also been subject to drainage work occuring post 1840's; the field drains are of extruded type.

{20} Caesar Shaw was an African servant to the Spencer family in the 18th century. He was baptised in Northampton and was owned by John Spencer. He is featured in two portraits in Althorp Hall. Pictures are often a good resource to illustrate the African presence in Britain.

{23} Reproduction of a picture of Althorp in 1677 by John Vorsterman.

{25} Mentions Altrop gardens.

{32} Collection of photographs of buildings in the village.

{33} Althorp was purchased in 1508 by John Spencer, and was emparked 4 years later. It is probable that there was already a house here, as his grandson, another Sir John, built the present one. This has never been pulled down though it has been so much altered that there is nothing of that date visible except its original plan. Robert, son of the 3rd Baron and Earl of Sunderland converted Althorp into a house of the late 17th cent. and many of the rooms have not been altered since. His grandson,
the 5th Earl started to build the stables, and also built the great dining room to the east.

{35} Though there are considerable 17th C remains, particularly in the interior, the character of the building is completely Georgian.

{37} In 1508 Sir John Spencer acquired a 300-acre estate around Althorp. The house was erected by Sir John, which provides the core for the one seen today, consisted of an enclosed courtyard with projecting wings on the south side; there are no surviving illustrations of this first building. It is presumed to have been unaltered until Dorothy, widowed wife of the First Earl of Sunderland, roofed over the courtyard and installed the grand staircase across the central axis in 1660-62. The house was then constructed of red brick however, for the well-travelled Second Earl of Sunderland it was unfashionable. Between 1730 and1732 he employed an Italian architect who set about 'classicising' the façade. In 1772 part of the roof fell in and years of neglect were compounded by the First Earl Spencer's prior interest in the construction of his London mansion, Spencer House. Only after his son's accession was an overhaul considered. The architect employed to undertake the work was Henry Holland in 1786-90. Externally, the facade was faced in white mathematical tiles whilst pediments were added to the north and south fronts. For the front entrance new dressings in Roche Abbey stone and pilasters of local Kingsthorpe stone were added. The roof was also lowered and the chimneys rebuilt. Holland also extended the house to the east with offices screened by shrubbery. The present gardens, including the oval pond, were laid out in the 1860s by W.M Teulon. In 1877 the Fifth Earl had J. MacVicar Anderson add the State Dining-Room and further alterations where carried out in 1911.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 7/1 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G01 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN44900.

<3> Jenkins S., 2003, England's Thousand Best Houses, p.536-38 (unchecked) (Extract). SNN104722.

<4> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.78 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<5> Countess Spencer R., 1982, A Short History of Althorp and The Spencer Family, (unchecked) (Booklet). SNN42570.

<6> Stamper P., 1998, The Historic Landscape Of Althorp Park - An Outline Of The Designed Landscape, With A Rapid Assessment, p.4 (checked) (Report). SNN100246.

<7> I.H.B.C., 1999-2014, Context, No. 124 p.2 (checked) (Journal). SNN62305.

<8> Tiles and Architectural Ceramics Society, 2011, TACS (Tiles and Architectural Ceramics Society) Location Database, (unchecked) (Gazetteer). SNN107648.

<9> Althorp, (checked) (Leaflet). SNN109057.

<11> Photographs of buildings in Althorp (Photographs). SNN111846.

<13> Morton J., 1712, The Natural History of Northamptonshire, p.493 (unchecked) (Book). SNN10113.

<14> 1721, ADD MSS 32467 F 4., (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN42547.

<15> 1951, Northamptonshire Past and Present (1/4), p.42 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN45453.

<16> 1818, Illustration: Northamptonshire Libraries Card 31, (unchecked) (Engraving). SNN42569.

<17> Countess Spencer R., 1982, A Short History of Althorp and The Spencer Family, (unchecked) (Booklet). SNN42570.

<18> NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGY, 1998, An Archaeological Watching Brief at Althorp Park, Northamptonshire, (checked) (Report). SNN39558.

<19> Mowl T.; Hickman C., 2008, The Historic Gardens of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN106082.

<20> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2008, Sites of Memory: The Slave Trade and Abolition, (unchecked) (Leaflet). SNN106244.

<21> Stamper P., 1998, The Historic Landscape Of Althorp Park - An Outline Of The Designed Landscape, With A Rapid Assessment, p.3 (checked) (Report). SNN100246.

<22> Mayes, I., 1975, Stately Homes - Who Cares?: A National Treasure House Under Pressure, (checked) (Newspaper cuttings). SNN109056.

<23> Althorp, (checked) (Leaflet). SNN109057.

<24> Colvin H., 1995, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects (1660-1840), p. 341, 504, 965, 1015, 286 (Book). SNN54451.

<25> Shipley W., 1754 (circa), Views of Noblemen's and Gentlemen's Seats, Parks etc., (unchecked) (Illustration). SNN109385.

<26> 1881, CENSUS, ALTHORP M323 (RG11/1564) (Uncertain). SNN56441.

<27> Tillemans P., 1721, View of The Earl of Sunderlands Seat at Althorp With the Old Gate House and Distant View of Brington Church, (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN109154.

<28> Heward J.; Taylor R., 1996, The Country Houses of Northamptonshire, p.52-57 (part checked) (Book). SNN41757.

<29> 1871, CENSUS, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN54766.

<30> 1998?, Althorp, (unchecked) (Guide). SNN100225.

<31> 1861, CENSUS, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN56440.

<32> Various, Various, Photographs of buildings in Althorp (Photographs). SNN111148.

<33> 1953, The Archaeological Journal (110), p. 186 (Journal). SNN59424.

<34> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 79-82 (Book). SNN111989.

<35> Harper, FR, 1962, Field Investigators Comments, F1 FRH 23-AUG-62 (Note). SNN112963.

<36> English Heritage, 1994, Register of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England (1994, Leicestershire), Part 30 Northamptonshire (Report). SNN42820.

<37> 2007, Althorp House, [Accessed 12-JUN-2007] (Website). SNN113528.

<38> Historic England, Undated, Labelled plan of the first-floor of Althorp House, RCH01/082/01/005 (Archive). SNN113530.

<39> Historic England, Undated, Photographs of Althorp taken for Earl Spencer, the owner, BL11671-97 (Archive). SNN113526.

<40> Historic England, Undated, Labelled plan of the ground-floor of Althorp House, RCH01/082/01/004 (Archive). SNN113529.

Record last edited

May 27 2022 2:27PM