Belton House, near Grantham in Lincolnshire, England, is one of Wilbraham’s finest architectural designs. Wilbraham’s drawings were based on Dutch prototypes, which must reflect her time learning her art from Pieter Post (1608 – 1669) the Dutch Golden Age architect, painter and printmaker.
For three hundred years leading up to 1984, Belton House was the seat of the Brownlow family. Despite his significant fortune Sir John Brownlow chose to build a comparatively modest house in contrast to many of the grand Baroque palaces being built by his contemporaries. The new house was fitted with the latest innovations such as sash windows – an invention which may be that of Elizabeth Wilbraham and is another clue pointing to her as the principle architect. Successive generations have made interior changes to the house which reflect changing social mores. However, the fabric and design of the house have little changed across the years.
Alice Brownlow née Sherard (1659-1721).*oil on canvas.*126.2 x 102 cm
In 1984 Belton was donated with most of its contents to the National Trust, which now opens Belton to the public.
