English School early 18th century

Hill House is one of the most important Elizabethan buildings in the country.  It was built for Sir Thomas Smith by his architect, Richard Kirby, to whom he left £20 to be paid on completion of the house.  Hill House has undergone many changes over the centuries, but the house remains most well known for its cycle of original sixteenth century wall paintings, executed in the style of tapestry hangings.  The house remained in the Smith family until 1925, when it was bought by Sir Robert Hudson.  Nearly all the house was destroyed by fire in 1969, and it subsequently passed into the care of English Heritage. Hill Hall has now been divided into a number of private houses.

Thomas Smith was a remarkable man.  He graduated and lectured at Cambridge, eventually becoming Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University.  He became close friends with Somerset, who was leader of an architectural group believing in the Renaissance as a style rather than as a fashion.  He subsequently became Provost of Eton, and then became M.P., and in 1562 he became Ambassador to France. Whilst there Smith became interested in French architecture.  A letter written by Lord Burghley in 1568 refers to a French book on architecture which he had seen at Smith's house, and aspects of the architecture of Hill Hall recalls French sixteenth century architecture.  Smith eventually settled into a comfortable retirement in Essex, and it was in 1568-69 that the courtyard of Hill Hall was given its present form.  The brickwork of Hill Hall, visible in the present pictures, is original, but a number of the other architectural features, including the porch of Tuscan columns, the pediment and the lantern, are eighteenth century.