Ickworth House is located within extensive tranquil parkland near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. The House was started in 1795 by the Irish architect Francis Sandys to the designs of the Italian architect Mario Asprucci. Completed in 1821, the House was built for the 4th Earl of Bristol to replace an earlier house which was demolished in 1710. Constructed of stuccoed brick, the building was designed to house the treasures collected on tours of Europe.
The House features a central rotunda with curved corridors (as above) to the south east and south west of the building.
The Pompeian Room (above) features exquisite wall paintings and decoration.
The staircase is flanked by paired scagliola Ionic columns and numerous family portraits adorning the walls.
The main state rooms were used only for occasional entertaining and remain in superb condition. Ickworth House is Grade I Listed.
The grounds of Ickworth have the country’s earliest remaining Italianate Garden which was installed at the beginning of the 19th century by the first Marquis. The layout echoes the floor plan of the House complete with corridors and rooms. The garden rooms include the Stumpery, a Spring Garden, Magnolia Garden and the Mediterranean Temple Garden.
