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Description: | This room was probably the original outer chamber. Here the Lord would have conducted his business. It would have been elaborately decorated to demonstrate his importance and wealth. The walls would have been hung with tapestries and the oak furniture would have been finely carved and decorated.It is believed that there would have been a wall dividing this room from the inner chamber, which would have been accessed via the corridor.The fifth Lord Burgh spent many years away serving Queen Elizabeth I in her wars with the Spanish. His health suffered and at the same time the family finances declined sharply. By 1596 they were forced to sell the Hall and manor of Gainsborough and it was bought by William Hickman a wealthy London merchant. The east range was extensively altered by William to demonstrate how fashionable his family was. The Upper Great Chamber had bay windows added on each side of the fireplace and the east front of the hall was faced with brick. The south end of the range had an extra floor and staircase inserted to give a suite of more intimate and private rooms for the family.The Upper Great Chamber was altered again in the 19th Century, this time for use as the town Assembly Rooms. The ceiling was raised by about 75 cm and a new fireplace was added. It is possible that this was when the wall between the outer and inner chambers was removed to create one large ballroom. | Subjects: | Country Estates | Source: | Lincolnshire County Council | Identifier: | http://www.lincstothepast.com/Records/Re... | Go to resource |
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