From Medieval Origins to Elizabethan Grandeur
The Evolution of the Hall
Despite its uniform appearance, Burton Constable Hall has a long and complex history. The Constable family established their home here in the 13th century, making it their principal home in East Yorkshire.
The oldest surviving feature is Stephen’s Tower, dating from the reign of King Stephen in the 12th century, originally built to defend the village.
In the late 15th century, a brick manor house was constructed, before being transformed in the 1560s by Sir John Constable into the Elizabethan mansion seen today. Earlier elements, including the North Tower, were retained and updated to match the new design.
Grand interiors, courtyards and stables completed the house, shaping the historic Hall that can still be explored today.
House Tour
Great Hall
Entered directly from the front door, this central space of the Elizabethan house reflects centuries of change through its architecture, decoration and later use.
Staircase Hall
Originally a modest staircase, this space was redesigned in the 1760s by Lightoler, later becoming a decorative interior defined by its yellow scheme and Erard piano.
Blue Drawing Room
Originally lodging rooms, this space became a breakfast room in the 18th century, later redecorated, with Monti’s marble figure Blind Love set within the domed bay.
Chinese Room
Inspired by Brighton’s Royal Pavilion, this 1820s room features Chinese wallpaper, gilded dragons and rich decoration, reflecting the 19th-century fascination with chinoiserie.
Great Drawing Room
Created in the late 18th century, this room was designed by Wyatt and completed with Chippendale’s involvement, later redecorated with yellow silk and surviving furnishings.
Chapel
Once a billiard room, later a coffee room, the Chapel celebrates the family's Catholic heritage through its ornate Victorian decoration.
Long Gallery
Completed in the late 16th century, this space became a library in the 1740s, later used for study, display and social gatherings.
Dining Room
Originally a sixteenth-century parlour, this room was remodelled in the 1760s with classical decoration centred on Bacchus, reflecting its long use for dining and entertaining.
Hidden Spaces
Explore the hidden workings of the Hall through attic corridors, servants’ rooms and historic cellars that reveal life behind the scenes at Burton Constable.
