Discovering the Beautiful Kingston Lacy Estate | Kingston Lacy

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National Trust - Kingston Lacy | Dorset, England

​Set within an expansive 8,500-acre estate, National Trust - Kingston Lacy is a magnificent 17th-century country house built to resemble an Italian palazzo. It houses one of the most significant private art and antiquities collections in the UK, accumulated over centuries by the Bankes family.

​About this Location:
The house was built between 1663 and 1665 for Sir Ralph Bankes, replacing the family's former seat at Corfe Castle after it was destroyed in the English Civil War. It was later extensively remodeled in the 19th century by the explorer and collector William John Bankes. The interior is famously opulent, featuring an extraordinary white marble staircase, a gilded Spanish room, and walls lined with masterpieces by artists like Rubens, Van Dyck, and Titian.

​Common Questions about Kingston Lacy:
​Q: What is the significance of the Egyptian collection?
​A: Kingston Lacy houses the largest private collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities in the UK, brought back by William John Bankes. The star attraction is the Philae Obelisk, which stands prominently on the south lawn. Its bilingual inscriptions were crucial in helping scholars decipher Egyptian hieroglyphs alongside the Rosetta Stone.