The William Cecil

The William Cecil Hotel, 37-39 High Street St Martin’s, is the first in an impressive street of historic buildings sweeping down to Stamford’s Town Bridge from the South. It was named in 2011 in honour of Elizabeth I’s Lord Treasurer, the builder of Burghley House.

The central house, No.38, was built in the eighteenth century for the 9th Earl of Exeter’s youngest sister, Lady Anne Cecil. She lived there unmarried until her death in 1785. The house still has its original Georgian stone facade.

As Lady Anne’s House it was leased by the Cecils to several distinguished tenants including in 1882 the 4th Earl of Rosslyn, a horse-racing enthusiast. He established a stud farm and racing stables in the grounds, adding the pillared porch to the entrance of the house and remodelling the interior in Mock Tudor style. Some of these Victorian features remain e.g. the tiled floor of the reception hall, heavy staircase and carved fireplace – but little of earlier origin.

His son lost both house and horses when declared bankrupt in 1899. The house had more tenants until it became a hotel in 1980, absorbing Nos. 37 and 39. At first called Lady Anne’s Hotel, it now acknowledges the Cecils, the owners for three centuries. Its comfortable surroundings offer food, drink and lodging to visitors to this ancient town.