Belton House

Belton House is a historic 17th century mansion house in Lincolnshire, whose stunning exterior and fascinating collections draw thousands of visitors a year.

Belton House history

Built between 1685 and 1688 in the Restoration style, Belton House was commissioned by John and Alice Brownlow. The pair were cousins who married in 1676, and 3 years later inherited their great-uncle’s vast fortune upon his death.

They gathered a group of master craftsmen, including chief joiner John Sturges who worked at Chatsworth, wrought-ironworker John Warren who worked at Denham Palace, and master mason William Stanton, who set about completing the couple’s grand plans.

The magnificent house that resulted would become the seat of the Brownlow family – and their heirs the Cust family – for over 300 years. Though each new generation made slight alterations to reflect their changing tastes and social status, the fabric and design of Belton has changed little since its construction in the 17th century.

In 1984, following financial difficulties within the family, it was donated along with most of its contents to the National Trust.

Belton House today

Today Belton House remains in the keeping of the National Trust and boasts a number of fine state rooms and halls to explore. It contains a vast collection of stunning artefacts categorised into four main areas: 17th century English portraiture, oriental ceramics, silver, and books. Highlights include the first road map of England, three huge canvas paintings of birds by Melchior d’Hondecoeter, and an exquisite lapis lazuli cabinet.

Tours ‘below stairs’ also take place at Belton House that explore the often-ignored stories of the house’s servants, and include a curious collection of labeled bells leading from each room in the house.

For a breath of fresh air, the house is surrounded by 36 acres of formal gardens and a larger wooded park, the latter of which has been home to a wild herd of fallow deer for over 300 years!

Getting to Belton House

Belton House is located in Grantham, Lincolnshire on the A607. Parking is available at the site, while a number of buses also stop outside the main entrance gates to the house. The nearest train station is 3 miles away at Grantham, from which a taxi or bus can be taken towards the site.