Charles Sabine Augustus Thellusson inherited the Brodsworth estate in 1859 and decided to commission a new mansion to replace the old 18th-century house. Designed in the Italianate style and decorated and furnished in the opulent fashion of the 1860s, it retains much of its original scheme to this day, making it one of England’s most complete surviving Victorian country houses.

Inside the entrance hall, the marbled walls and scagliola columns form a prelude to the splendours of the inner halls and reception rooms beyond. Rich, decorative schemes are found throughout the house, with the halls forming an elegant setting for a succession of marble statues. The Drawing Room boasts a superbly painted ceiling, crimson silk damask wall coverings, chandeliers and gilt-framed mirrors.The Dining and Billiard Rooms are more masculine, with collections of paintings and silver, and furniture in rich mahogany.

In the 20th century, successive members of the family met rising costs by reducing the number of rooms in use and the number of staff looking after them. Gradually, the house fell into decay and the servants’ wing was abandoned, leaving a clutter of furniture from a bygone age. English Heritage decided to conserve rather than restore the interior, retaining the faded, original finishes and worn furnishings, to preserve the patina of age recounting the tale of how a once-opulent Victorian house has grown comfortably old and is now inviting to all.

For further information please visit the English Heritage site.