The location of the house and the room functions were chosen to make the most of the views of the gardens and hunting park – unusually, the best rooms faced north.
Although the North front was not the main entrance, it was designed to be the most visually striking. The open-sided gallery is called a loggia. The loggias on both the North and the West front at Houghton are thought to have been designed by Inigo Jones. They are important early examples of neo-classical architecture in England.
The loggias display friezes with decorative carvings. These symbols related to Mary Herbert and her family, and include her coat of arms, flower emblems and the bear and staff, the emblem of the Dudleys, her mother's family.
Italian classical design was becoming increasingly fashionable in high circles and was used to display wealth and good taste. The loggias provided sheltered access to the garden and the first floor balconies were used as dining chambers for light meals of spiced wine and delicacies.
Disclaimer
The text and pictures on this page are derived from the 'Heritage Unlocked' series of guidebooks published in 2004. We intend to review, update and enhance the content in the near future as part of the Portico project, whose objective is to provide information on the history, significance, research background and sources for all English Heritage properties.
