Burghley Park Begun by William Cecil, Lord Burghley, Elizabeth I’s valued Lord Treasurer, Burghley House and Park has dominated Stamford for the last five centuries. William’s descendants influenced the politics and economics of the whole town and the 1400 acres of parkland restricted any expansion to the south. Burghley Park and House In 1911 a large number of indoor and outdoor staff worked on the Burghley estate, some of whom lived in the town. Others were accommodated in cottages in the park. Many estate workers went off to fight in WWI and Burghley House became a hospital for wounded soldiers. Some excitement was caused in 1916 when a Zeppelin passed over the park and dropped a stray bomb between Blackstone’s engineering works and Newstead village.