Knole House

Sevenoaks, UK

Knole is a country house and former archbishop's palace owned by the National Trust. It is situated within Knole Park, a 1,000-acre park located immediately to the south-east of Sevenoaks in west Kent. The house ranks in the top five of England's largest houses, under any measure used, occupying a total of four acres

The current house dates back to the mid-15th century, with major additions in the 16th and, particularly, the early 17th centuries. Its grade I listing reflects its mix of late-medieval to Stuart structures and particularly its central facade and state rooms. In 2019 an extensive conservation project, "Inspired by Knole", was completed to restore and develop the structures of the buildings and thus help to conserve its important collections.

As part of the conservation project, UFO were contracted by lighting designers Sutton Vane Associates to design, manufacture and supply lighting systems for 5 areas in the House - the Billiards Room, The Brown Gallery and in the 3 bedrooms which contain state beds - which are some of the most significant surviving pieces of royal furniture in Britain.

In the 3 stunningly well preserved bedrooms, UFO MBL3 fittings were discretely and meticuloulsy placed and focused to illuminate the exact areas specified by the lighting designers.

The Billiards Room contains priceless works of art from the likes of Van Dyck, whose portrait of the Italian Renaissance painter Sofinisba Anguissola is one of the highlights. UFO's Caravaggio lighting system was specified to illuminate these pieces and bathes them in a natural light to bring out their exquisite beauty.

The Brown Gallery, which features an extraordinary collection of 16th and early 17th-century portraits, is a Who's Who of the contemporary great and good in England and Europe. Again UFO MBL3 fittings are employed to great effect. Situated on the beams above the artworks, they shine over the corridor and light the pictures on the opposite wall.

Images courtesy of James Newton Photography