Cottesbrooke Hall, Northants

Private
A Queen Anne house in extensive grounds. Building of the house was started in 1702 by Sir John Langham, with the East and West bows added around 1780. Some alterations and modernisations were made in the 20th Century. The house is currently owned by the Buchanan family.
Two flanking pavilions are joined to the main house by curving corridors, one of which contains a noted collection of English, Chinese and Continental porcelain. There is an exceptional collection of sporting pictures. The house is notable for being exceptionally well maintained: almost everything inside looks like new. The house is open to visitors on limited dates during the warmer months, and admission is by conducted tour.
The grounds are extensive, with parkland, a series of well-planted formal gardens around the house enclosed by walls or hedges, and a woodland garden with a stream and a couple of garden buildings at a little distance from the house.
When driving to the estate, allow extra time for negotiating slow and congested roads in this part of Northamptonshire.