Audley End House (Grid reference TL524381 (http://www.rhaworth.myby.co.uk/oscoor_a.htm?TL524381_region:GB_scale:25000)) is largely an early 17th-century country house just outside Saffron Walden, Essex, south of Cambridge, England. It was once a palace in all but name and renowned as one of the finest Jacobean houses in England. Audley End is now only one-third of its original size, but is still large, with much to enjoy in its architectural features and varied collections. This article is about the map grid references in the UK. For the Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... In Britain (and also in Ireland) the term country house generally refers to a large house which was built on an agricultural estate as the private residence of the landowner. ... Saffron Walden is a small market town in the district of Uttlesford in Essex, England, 12 miles North of Bishops Stortford, and about 15 miles South of Cambridge. ... This article is about the county of Essex in England. ... This article is about Cambridge, England; see also other places called Cambridge. ...

Audley End was formerly the site of a Benedictine monastery (Walden Abbey), granted to Sir Thomas Audley in 1538 by Henry VIII. It was converted to a domestic house for him, known as Audley Inn. This dwelling was later demolished by his grandson, Thomas Howard (the first Earl of Suffolk and Lord Treasurer), and a much grander mansion was built, primarily for entertaining King James I. A Benedictine is a person who follows the Rule of Saint Benedict, whether belonging to the Roman Catholic Church, or to one of the Anglican or Protestant churches. ... Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England and Lord of Ireland (later King of Ireland) from 22 April 1509 until his death. ... The title of Earl of Suffolk has been created several times in the Peerage of England, most recently in 1603 for Thomas Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Walden. ... The Lord High Treasurer bears a white staff as his symbol of office. ... James VI of Scotland and I of England (Charles James) (19 June 1566–27 March 1625) was a King who ruled over England, Scotland and Ireland, and was the first Sovereign to reign in the three realms simultaneously. ...

The layout reflects the processional route of the King and Queen, each having their own suite of rooms. It is reputed that Thomas Howard told King James he had spent some £200,000 on creating this grand house, and it may be that the King had unwittingly contributed. In 1619, Thomas and his wife were found guilty of embezzlement and sent to the Tower of London. However, a huge fine secured their release, but Howard died in disgrace at Audley End in 1626.

At this time, the house was on the scale of a great royal palace, and soon became one after Charles II bought it in 1668 for 50,000 pounds, for use as a home when attending the races at Newmarket. It was returned to the Suffolks in 1701. Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was the King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 30 January 1649 (de jure) or 29 May 1660 (de facto) until his death. ...

Over the next century, the house was gradually demolished until it was reduced to the size we see today. However, the main structure has remained little altered since the main front court was demolished in 1708, and the east wing came down in 1753. Some rooms have been substantially remodelled, though, especially the huge Hall.

Sir John Griffin, later fourth Baron Howard de Walden and first Baron Braybrooke, introduced sweeping changes before he died in 1797. In 1762, Sir Griffin commissioned Capability Brown to landscape the parkland, and Robert Adam to design new reception rooms on the house's ground floor, which he did in the style of the 18th century with a formal grandeur. The Great Drawing Room proved problematic as it had to be the grandest room for receiving guests, but it possessed a very low ceiling, and this was considered most undesirable at that time. Robert Adam solved the problem to a large extent by making the furniture unusually small and lowering the chair rail. His design of the Little Drawing Room for the Ladies was exceedingly odd, based on the style of ancient Rome, and Lady Griffin had difficulty moving between the columns when dressed in her evening gown. John Howard Griffin (June 16, 1920 - September 9, 1980) was a noted 20th century American writer best known for his critically acclaimed Black Like Me, an account of his journeys through the Deep South while disguised as an African-American. ... Baron Braybrooke is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. ... Lancelot Brown ( 1716 - 6 February 1783), more commonly known as Capability Brown, was an English landscape gardener, now remembered as the last of the great English eighteenth-century artists to be accorded his due, and Englands greatest gardener. He designed over 200 parks, many of which still endure. ... Kedleston Hall. ...

The third Baron Braybrooke, who inherited house and title in 1825, installed most of the house's huge picture collection, filled the rooms with furnishings, and reinstated something of the original Jacobean feel to the State Rooms.

After Audley End was requisitioned in World War II, the ninth Lord Braybrooke resumed possession, and in 1948 the house was sold to the Ministry of Works, English Heritage's predecessor. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... English Heritage is a United Kingdom government body with a broad remit of managing the historic environment of England. ...

External link

Audley End's page on English Heritage's website (http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/default.asp?wci=mainframe&URL1=default.asp%3FWCI%3DNode%26WCE%3D811%26document_from%3Dhttp%253A//www.english-heritage.org.uk/filestore/visitsevents/asp/visits/Details.asp%253FProperty_Id%253D1)