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Throughout the 2008 season visitors to Harewood will be viewing the State Floor of the House the opposite way around.
Built by Edwin Lascelles between 1759 and 1771, Harewood House is a fine example of the English country house.
The estate was bought by the Lascelles family in 1738 with money made fom the West Indian sugar trade.
In 1753, Edwin Lascelles commissioned John Carr of York to design and build the House (plus stables, farm and 'model' village).  Whilst Carr was completing work on the stables, Edwin Lascelles showed the plans of the house to Robert Adam, a young Scottish architect. After noting Adam's comments, Edwin decided to commission both architects to design his fashionable neo-classical home. Foundations were laid in 1759 and the house finally became habitable in 1771, although the Gallery was not finished until a year later.
Edwin Lascelles commissioned the greatest names of the day, including Joseph Rose and William Collins to execute the plaster work, Antonio Zucchi and Biagio Rebecca for the wall paintings and the cabinet maker, Thomas Chippendale whose commission was the largest of his career.
During the 19th Century many changes were made to the House, most notably the extensions and alterations made by Sir Charles Barry. These included the addition of a third storey, removal of the classical portico on the south side and the addition of the Terrace Garden between 1844 and 1848. Many interior changes were also made.
It was not until 1929-39 that the House was again remodelled by the sixth Earl and HRH Princess Mary. This time it was with an eye to restoration. Sir Herbert Baker, who had worked alongside Edwin Lutyens on the New Delhi project in India, was asked to design the alterations and improvements. On the architectural side, Adam's designs re-emerged as the dominating influence inside the house and other work included the re-hanging of paintings and room refurbishment schemes.
Following the precedent set by Princess Mary and the Sixth Earl, there is a continuing programme of restoration work in the house.
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