A Brief History.
Part Two – The Cecil Family
I write
classic, historical romantic fiction, so I enjoy visiting places of historical
interest and reading about families who lived in the past. This helps me to
create times past in my novels.
Hatfield House dates from 1497when the Old Palace was completed. In James I reign three sides were demolished and the present house built. Robert Lyminge planned it, with State Rooms, in the central block, where the king could be entertained. Two wings on either side were occupied by Robert Cecil, Chief Minister of the Crown, later Lord Burghley, who founded the Cecil family, whose descendant owns the house. English, Flemish and French craftsmen designed the interior. The gardens featured a lake and fountains and were planted with rare plants from abroad collected by John Tradescant, a famous botanist.
James 1
visited the house, so did his ill-fated son, Charles 1, whose papist son James
II fled from anti-Roman Catholic demonstrations in London, before his daughter
Mary and her husband William of Orange usurped the throne.
The
house did not fare well from the civil war until the second half of the 18th
century when the First Marquess,(1748-1780) served as George III’s Lord
Chamberlain and his beautiful wife, a notable, but eccentric, Tory hostess. Tragically
she died in a fire in the West Wing. Her son, the second Marquess rebuilt it,
and redecorated the house in the popular Elizabethan style.
The
third marquess (1830-1903) leader of the Conservative Party was Prime Minister
three times. His political expertise helped Britain’s empire to stretch over
the world and he also helped to maintain the balance of power in Europe. Interested
in religion, he commenced daily services in the chapel, which continue. Moreover,
he brought his seven children up in the Christian faith and allowed his sons
and daughters to discuss. debate and argue him and their mother. As adults each
of them were distinguished. The 4th Marquess (1861-1947) was an
important member of the Conservative party, his brother, William, became the
Bishop of Exeter, Robert founded the League of Nations and received the Nobel
Peace Prize. Edward advised the Egyptian government about finance, his fourth
brother, a well-known orator, became Provost of Eton, His sister, Maud, embraced various good causes.
His other sister Gwendolen became their father’s secretary and wrote his
interesting biography.
From
then on, members of the Cecil family were prominent statesmen and many famous
people of note, including Queen Elizabeth 11, the Queen Mother, the Prince of
Wales, now King Charles 111 and Sir Winston Churchill visited Hatfield House,
which is now open to the public.
The 5th
Marquess (1893-1972) was under secretary for foreign affairs and subsequently the
leader of The House of Lords. His interests were the antiquities in Hatfield
House. He and his wife had three sons but only one survived.
The 6th
Marquess had a distinguished career, so does the 7th Marquess, born
in 1946, who has two sons, his heir Viscount Cranborne, who was Queen
Elizabeth’s page of honour from 1983-1986. He is not married but his daughter
was born in 2001. His younger brother is married and has a son born in 2009.
https://bwlpublishing.ca/morris-rosemary
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Alwas a pleasure to read your historical novels, Rosemary. I learn so much about history each time. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteNew things to learn with your posttoday. Very involved men
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