'…Robert Corbet, carried away with the affectionate delight of Architecture, began to build in a barren pace a most gorgeous and stately house…'
William Camden, 1607.
Robert Corbet inherited Moreton Corbet castle in 1578 and immediately began to transform his ancestral home, influenced by his extensive travelling.
The broad front of the building was symmetrically planned and punctuated by huge grid windows. It was covered in rich, classical detailing; some of it evidently copied from books on architecture printed in Europe. There was a high-pitched slate roof, partially concealed by tall gables.
The principal chambers of the range, including a great chamber and long gallery, overlooked a new garden created by Robert beside the castle. A 1588 survey records that the garden had formal walks and a central sundial, with an orchard nearby. Traces of the garden are still faintly visible as earthworks in the neighbouring field.
Robert died of the plague in 1583 and his brothers Richard and Vincent, who inherited the castle in turn, completed the range. It was repaired after the Civil War but fell into ruin during the 18th century when the Corbet family chose to live elsewhere.
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.
