He planted a 'wilderness' of native trees and loved Kirby so much that his absence from the House of Lords was noteworthy. His death in 1706 meant that Kirby's zenith had been passed. His heirs preferred to live in London, got into debt and the house gradually fell into disrepair. By 1930, the house came into the guardianship of the Office of Works, and since 1984, it has been cared for and extensively repaired by English Heritage. The west front and the great Elizabethan bay windows from the garden Kirby Hall covers a vast area and it is worth taking your time exploring the remains.
Some parts are roof-less, some have fine Jacobean plasterwork ceilings.
The gateway leads in through a finely carved stone Loggia to the Inner Courtyard, with the ranges on either side used for accommodation. Straight ahead is the main focus of the house, with a Renaissance porch combining Elizabethan and Classical decoration. To the right is the Great Hall, still an important room when the house was built, and descended from the medieval Great Halls of earlier centuries. Here however, the fashion for light and space can be seen from the huge windows. The walls would have been panelled and colourful paintings, carpets and fabrics would have displayed the taste and wealth of the owners.