Boughton House, Country house in Weekley, England
Boughton House is a large country house in Weekley, Northamptonshire, classified as a historic house museum and Grade I listed building. The estate covers around 11,000 acres and includes baroque State Rooms, formal gardens and extensive grounds with woodlands and parkland.
Ralph Montagu, first Duke of Montagu, built the present house after 1683, incorporating French architectural elements inspired by the Palace of Versailles. The Montagu family remained closely tied to the estate into the 20th century.
The collection holds paintings by El Greco, Thomas Gainsborough and John Wootton, along with furniture, tapestries and fine porcelain. These artworks show the taste of European noble families across several centuries and remain displayed in the historic rooms.
The estate opens on specific dates for guided tours, giving visitors access to the house museum, landscaped gardens and seasonal events. On some days the outdoor areas and woodland paths are also open without a tour.
In 2012 researchers discovered previously unknown Italian Baroque musical scores, including Vivaldi compositions, within the Montagu Music Collection at the estate. These finds expanded understanding of 18th-century music history considerably.
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