Corsham Court, a splendid Elizabethan house dating from 1582, was acquired in 1745 to display Sir Paul Methuen’s celebrated collection of 16th and 17th century Old Master paintings. This internationally renowned collection includes important works by Van Dyck, Carlo Dolci, Filippo Lippi, Salvator Rosa, Reynolds and Romney. Capability Brown was employed during the 1760’s to enlarge the house, creating the magnificent Picture Gallery and suite of State Rooms. These rooms still retain their original silk wall-hangings and furniture designed by Chippendale, Johnson, Cobb and the Adam brothers. Surrounding the Court are the delightful gardens and parkland which were initially designed by Brown and later completed by Humphry Repton. The gardens are particularly admired for the collection of magnolias, specimen trees and spring bulbs.