Burton Agnes Hall – One of the most senior political figures of the late twentieth century has a direct family connection to the East Riding through William Whitelaw, better known as Lord Whitelaw.
Whitelaw was the father of Susan Cunliffe-Lister and the grandfather of Simon Cunliffe-Lister, the current custodian of Burton Agnes Hall. When the Hall passed to Simon Cunliffe-Lister in 1989, Susan Cunliffe-Lister assumed responsibility for managing the estate during his minority. This period forms part of the Hall’s published modern history and is acknowledged in official Burton Agnes material.
As a result, the Whitelaw family is embedded in the recent stewardship of Burton Agnes Hall. The connection is not symbolic or retrospective. It relates directly to the ownership and management of the house during the late twentieth century, a period that helped shape its current role as both a family home and a major public attraction.
A portrait of Lord Whitelaw hangs at Burton Agnes Hall as part of the house’s wider collection. The painting depicts Whitelaw in later life and is identified within the house as a portrait of the former Deputy Prime Minister. Its presence reflects his position within the Cunliffe-Lister family rather than a political commission connected to Yorkshire, but it nonetheless places a major national political figure physically within one of the East Riding’s most important historic interiors.
Whitelaw’s national career is well documented. A senior Conservative cabinet minister, he served as Home Secretary, Northern Ireland Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister under Margaret Thatcher. He was widely regarded as a stabilising figure during periods of political tension, particularly in the early years of the Thatcher government.
At Burton Agnes Hall, however, Whitelaw appears not as a statesman but as a family figure. Through his daughter’s role in managing the estate and his grandson’s inheritance of it, his name and likeness form part of the continuing story of the house. The connection places Burton Agnes within the personal history of one of Britain’s most influential post-war politicians, linking national political life to the private family networks that continue to shape the East Riding’s historic estates.
About Burton Agnes Hall
Burton Agnes Hall is one of the East Riding’s most important historic houses and remains privately owned by the Cunliffe-Lister family. Built in the early seventeenth century, it is best known for its red-brick exterior, grand interiors and long continuity of family ownership.
Today the Hall is open to the public for much of the year and combines a working family home with a nationally recognised arts and heritage programme. Alongside its historic rooms and portrait collection, Burton Agnes hosts exhibitions of contemporary art, concerts, talks and seasonal events, making it one of the most active cultural venues of its kind in East Yorkshire.
The surrounding grounds include formal gardens, woodland walks and open parkland, with a café and shop on site. Its location, just inland from the Holderness coast, places it within easy reach of Beverley, Driffield and Bridlington, and makes it a popular destination for both local visitors and tourists exploring the wider East Riding.
Burton Agnes Hall – at a glance
Location: Burton Agnes, East Riding of Yorkshire
Built: Early 17th century
Ownership: Privately owned by the Cunliffe-Lister family
Status: Historic house open to the public
Known for: Portrait collection, historic interiors, contemporary art programme
Facilities: Gardens, woodland walks, café and shop
Access: A short drive from Beverley, Driffield and Bridlington
Website: burtonagnes.com