History at Killerton

Killerton is a warm and welcoming Georgian family home with a colourful history. On your visit you can see the annually changing fashion exhibition upstairs in the house, learn the history behind family portraits, listen to the country-house organ that is still played today and relive times past at our historical events.

Through the keyhole

The design history of Killerton House

Take a room-by-room look into the design history of Killerton House, orignially built as the Acland's 'temporary' family home.

Johnson's elegance and simplicity of Killerton

John Johnson was the architect hired by Sir Thomas to build a temporary home for the Aclands at Killerton. Johnson’s temporary house became the family home when plans for a grander house near its location were abandoned.

Fashion forward

Paulise de Bush played a big part in Killerton's fashion history

Timeline: History of Killerton costume collection

The costume collection at Killerton House holds a rich array of clothing and accessories. Find out how the collection came together and why it is held at Killerton.

See special items from Killerton's fashion exhibition, Devon

Killerton's 2016 exhibition: fashion to dye for

A rainbow of colour has burst into Killerton House for the 2016 fashion exhibition, and you can see it until 30 October. The fashion exhibition takes a break in 2017, returning in 2018.

A room with a view

The Veitch legacy

The 18th-century park was laid out by famous nurseryman John Veitch. His legacy lives on in the parkland you see today.

A dream into a reality

Sir Thomas Acland wished to have gardens and parkland fit for his new family seat at Killerton. He took on renowned Scottish gardener John Veitch to make his dreams come true.

Historical destinations at Killerton

The chapel

Killerton's chapel is a must see on your visit.

Killerton's laundry room

A glimpse into the Victorian laundry room at Killerton.

The bear's hut and ice house

You can walk in the footsteps of a bear at Killerton and discover the historic ice house.

Killerton's characters

Sir Thomas' dreams for Killerton

Next Previous

The origins of the Acland family

Discover the origins of the Acland family in the time of the Normans. Find out more about how they came to be at Killerton.
Lydia Hoare: getting to know a Lady of Killerton

Lydia Hoare married Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, 10th Bt, known as the Great Sir Thomas. This couple took Killerton into its golden age. Get to know Lydia, who was certainly more than just the mother of ten children.
Killerton's brilliant Harriet Fox-Strangways

Find out more about the colourful life of Harriet Fox-Strangways who had many adventures of her own, including travelling across America and entering an enemy camp.
Gertrude Walrond: breathing new life into Killerton

Gertrude and Charles, close neighbours of Killerton’s Acland family, thought Killerton House was very old-fashioned and unsuitable. They made some dramatic changes.
Sir Thomas' dreams for Killerton

The Acland family settled in south Devon in the late sixteenth century. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had grown in wealth and rank. The 7th Baronet, Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, wanted Killerton to be a visible mark of his status.