On Friday 24th April, Year 8 visited Burghley House in Stamford, Lincolnshire, where they explored Tudor food, architecture and the life of William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I.

Built in the 16th Century, Burghley is one of the largest and grandest surviving houses of the period. The estate has remained in the hands of the Cecil family ever since, with each generation contributing to its conservation and evolution.

The visit offered a valuable insight into the societal role of Tudor homes and how a house like Burghley functioned not just as a family residence, but as a centre of political and domestic life. Students toured the state rooms, admired neoclassical artworks and discovered how the estate operated as a self-contained community, complete with its own dairy, brewhouse and other working buildings.

Here are Year 8 student reflections from the trip:

“I really enjoyed looking around Burghley House including the kitchen, the state rooms, etc and I also enjoyed learning about the history behind the house and who made each painting or tapestry. I was very fascinated by William Cecil and the reason behind why the house was built and how it was built for Queen Elizabeth I and had small clues for her around the castle. I feel the tour guides were very clear with information and really helped us enjoy the trip. They were very informative! I enjoyed what I could see of the gardens, it was a beautiful view! Overall, I had a very nice time and would love to go again! It was a great experience!”

“I thought the Burghley House trip was really fun and taught me some lessons on the importance of making sure that pieces of history that are old are preserved and kept well. I also enjoyed how fun it was spending that time with our friends whilst being immersed in a very important and beautiful piece of history with lots of stories linked to it.”

“The visit to Burghley House was a great experience. Not only did I enjoy learning about the fascinating history of architecture, but also about important figures who shaped our world into what it is today. I am grateful that I had the chance to explore a house that carries such rich culture and history. I would love to visit it again someday!”