Built from the locally quarried Ham Hill stone, the house was a symbol of Sir Edward’s power and wealth. It was built on a grand scale with turrets, obelisks, shell niches, pavilions and walls of glass. Set in the beautiful village of Montacute, this magnificent home is a masterpiece of Elizabethan Renaissance architecture and design.
Today, the house, its garden and park retain an extraordinary power over the landscape.
Sir Thomas Dyke Acland 7th Baronet set about creating a landscape at Killerton that reflected his family’s high position in society, in the late 18th century. Together with the landscaper John Veitch, they left a lasting impression on the Killerton landscape and their ancestors went on to plant several specimen plants and trees.
Veitch brought some drama to the hill behind the house by planting tall trees, contrasting with a gentle sweep of lawn into the valley floor beyond. He created new paths and drives that followed natural contours and took advantage of breath-taking views in the distance.
