Killerton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Killerton |
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Killerton House
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| Type | Country House |
| Location | Broadclyst |
| OS grid reference | SS 97349 00089 |
| Area | Devon |
| Built | 1778 |
| Architect | John Johnson |
| Owner | National Trust |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: Killerton House and Ha Ha approximately 20 metres in front of entrance | |
| Designated | 11 November 1952 |
| Reference no. | 1098331 |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: The Bear's Hut 220 metres North West of Killerton House | |
| Designated | 20 May 1985 |
| Reference no. | 1170706 |
| Official name: Killerton House | |
| Designated | 12 Aug 1987 |
| Reference no. | 1000694 |
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Killerton is an old house from the 1700s located in Broadclyst, Exeter, Devon, England. It has a beautiful hillside garden and a large estate. The National Trust has owned Killerton since 1944, and you can visit it today!
The National Trust shows the house as it would have looked when it was a comfy home. Inside, you can see a cool collection of old clothes (costumes) from the 1700s to the 1900s. These are displayed in rooms that look just like they did back then.
The whole area around the house is huge! It's about 25.9 square kilometers (that's like 6,400 football fields!). This land includes a steep, wooded hill. At the top of this hill, you can find the remains of an Iron Age hill fort called Dolbury. People have also found signs that the Romans were here. There's even a Roman fort or camp with three ditches that you can still see in pictures taken from the air.
Killerton House itself and a small building called the Bear's Hut in the gardens are special historic buildings. They are listed as Grade II*. The gardens are also very important and are listed as Grade II* in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.
Killerton's Story
The land around Killerton has a long history. A place called Columbjohn was bought by Sir John Acland, who was a Member of Parliament. Soon after, in 1612, his nephew Sir Arthur Acland bought the land next to it, which was Killerton.
The Killerton House you see today was built in 1778. It was built by Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, who was the 7th baronet of his family. The chapel on the estate was built even earlier, in 1738. It was designed by an architect named Charles Robert Cockerell.
The Amazing Gardens
The beautiful gardens at Killerton were created in the 1770s by John Veitch. He was one of the best landscape designers of his time.
The gardens are famous for:
- Colorful rhododendrons
- Beautiful magnolias
- Long herbaceous borders (flower beds)
- Rare and unusual trees
You can also find an ice house and a summer house from the early 1800s. The parkland and woods around the house have many paths for walking and exploring.
A Special Gift
Killerton was given to the National Trust in 1944. The person who gave it was a British politician named Sir Richard Dyke Acland. He was the 15th Baronet in his family.
In 2015, the National Trust even put on a short play at Killerton. It was called The Gift and told the story of why Sir Richard decided to give his amazing estate to the National Trust.
The Lost House Mystery
In 2016, archaeologists were digging at Killerton. They found something very exciting! They believe they found the foundations of a house that was meant to replace the current Killerton House.
For 240 years, this house was known as the "lost house of Devon." It was designed by a famous architect named James Wyatt. The foundations are a short walk from the current house. It seems a group of trees was planted on purpose to hide it.
The National Trust has marked out where the corners of this planned house would have been. They've even put up a door and frame where they think the entrance to the billiard room would have been. Information boards at Killerton say that more archaeological digs are planned for the future to learn more about this mystery.
