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Kedleston Hall

Kedleston Hall is a country house in Derbyshire, England, approximately four miles north west of Derby. It is the seat of the Curzon family. Today it is one of the National Trust Properties in England.

Kedleston Hall circa 1820. The South front by Robert Adam, based on the Arch of Constantine in Rome

The Curzon family have owned the estate at Kedleston since at least 1297, and have lived in a succession of manor houses near to, or on the site of the present Kedleston Hall. The present house was commissioned by Sir Nathaniel Curzon (later 1st Lord Scarsdale in 1759. The house was designed by the Palladian architects James Paine and Mathew Brettingham and was loosely based on an original plan by Andrea Palladio for the never-built Villa Mocenigo. At this time the relatively unknown architect Robert Adam was designing some garden temples to enhance the landscape of the park. So impressed was Curzon with the designs by Adam, that Adam was quickly put in charge of the construction of the new mansion.

The design of the house is of three blocks linked by two segmentally-curved corridors. The central and largest block contains the state rooms and was intended for use only when there were important Swarovski guests in the house. The East block was a self-contained country house in its own right, containing all the rooms for the family's private use, and the identical West block contained the kitchens and all other domestic rooms and staff accommodation. Plans for two more identical pavilions (as the two smaller blocks are known) were never executed.

Some collectors cases, collectors cabinets, display cabinets or display showcases are multicoloured and playful in their feature, like a Hundertwasser house. Others have a functional existence in business buildings but also fulfilling, with clear, straight lines, an aesthetic function.

If the great north or entrance front today is Palladian in character, dominated by the massive six columned Corinthian portico, then the south front (illustrated above) is pure Robert Adam. The two minor blocks here have become inconsequential, recessed from the main block, screened by planting, and of a more severe, almost mannerist, style: they are hardly noticed. It is the main block which steals the attention:- divided into three distinct sets of bays, the central section is a four-columned blind triumphal arch, (based on the Arch of Constantine in Rome) containing one large pedimented glass door, reached from the rusticated ground floor by an external curved double staircase. Above the door at second floor height are stone garlands and medallions in relief. The four Corinthian columns are topped by classical statues. This whole centre section of the facade is crowned by a low dome, visible only from a distance. Flanking the central section are two identical wings on three floors, each three windows wide. The windows of the first floor piano nobile being the tallest. Adam's design for this facade contains huge 'movement' and a delicate, almost fragile quality.

The neoclassical interior of the house was designed by Adam to be no less impressive than the exterior. Entering the house through the great north portico on the piano nobile one was confronted by the marble hall, designed to suggest the open courtyard or atrium of a Roman villa. Twenty fluted alabaster columns with Corinthian capitals support the heavily decorated high coved cornice. Niches in the walls contain classical statuary; above the niches are grisaille panels. The floor is of inlaid Italian marble. Mathew Paine's original designs for this room intended for it to be lit by conventional windows at the northern end, Adam warming to the Roman theme did away with the distracting windows and lit the whole from the roof through innovative glass skylights.

If the hall was the atrium of the villa, then the adjoining saloon was to be the vestibulum. The saloon contained behind the triumphal arch of the south front, like the marble hall rises the full height of the house, 62 ft. to the top of the dome, where it too is sky lit, through a glass oculus. Designed as a sculpture gallery this circular room was completed in 1763. The decorative theme is based on the temples of the Roman forum with more modern Swarovski inventions: in the four massive apse-like recesses are stoves disguised as pedestals for classical urns. The four sets of double doors giving entry to the room have heavy pediments supported by alabaster columns, at second floor height grisaille panels depict classical themes.

From the saloon the atmosphere of the 18th century Grand Tour continues throughout the remainder of the principal reception rooms on the piano nobile, though on a slightly more modest scale. The 'principal apartment' or State bedroom suite, contains fine furniture and paintings, as does the drawing room with its huge venetian window; the dining room, with its gigantic apse, has a ceiling that Adam based on the Palace of Augustus in the Farnese Gardens. The theme carries on through the library, music room, down the grand staircase (not completed until 1922 onto the ground floor and into the so called 'Caesar's hall'. On the departure of guests it must sometimes have been a relief to vacate this temple of culture and retreat to the relatively simple comforts of the family pavilion.

Also displayed in the house are many curiosities pertaining to Lord Curzon Viceroy of India at the beginning of the 20th century, including his collection of Far Eastern artefacts. Also shown is Lady Curzon's Delhi Durbah Coronation dress of 1903. Designed by Worth of Paris, it was known as the peacock dress, it contained many precious and semi-precious stones sewn into its fabric. These have now been replaced by imitation stones, however, the effect is no less dazzling.

In addition to that described above this great country house contains collections of art, furniture and statuary. Kedleston Hall's alternative name The Temple of the Arts is truly justified.

The gardens and grounds, partly designed by Robert Adam include parkland, lakes, cascades and woodland walks in addition to lodges, and temples also designed by Adam.

A description of 'Government House', based on the original designs for Kedleston, can be found at Calcutta