CAROL Kitching is the head guide for Wilton House; the theme of the talk was the influence of the royal court upon the evolution of the house, which was at the forefront of architectural fashion, particularly in Tudor and Stuart times.

William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke built an impressive Renaissance Tudor house incorporating the best features of the period in 1545 including the main entrance modelled on the two Holbein gateways at Whitehall.

The 2nd, 3rd and 4th Earls maintained the family’s reputation for royal service and hosted many royal visits to Wilton, which led to the rebuilding of much of the house in the Palladian style seen today.

The design was led by Inigo Jones and incorporated features of the Banqueting House in Whitehall. At this time extensive formal gardens in the French style were laid out behind the house.

In the fashion of the time, the 9th Earl incorporated a number of classical Greek features into the house and also re-landscaped the grounds in a romantic natural style, and built the Palladian bridge.

The 11th Earl embarked on a programme to make the house more of a family home, building the cloisters which provide access to each room as well as a display area for sculpture.

The next meeting is at Morgan’s Vale and Woodfalls Village Hall at Tuesday, April 2 at 7.30pm.

Nick Griffiths will be speaking on The Dark Ages – The Origins of England.

Visitors welcome.