The house from an 1823 engraving from "Neale's Views of the Seats of the Noblemen and Gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland"
The house from a 1905 postcard
The house from a circa 1911 postcard
Built / Designed For: John, 1st Baron Ashburnham
House & Family History: On the death of Lord Upper Ossory in 1818, Ampthill became the seat of Lord and Lady Holland, the Whig man-and-wife team who were famous for the political and intellecutal gatherings they hosted at their London home, Holland House. During World War II there was a farming camp near Ampthill where volunteers recovered sugarbeet and were accommodated in tents on the grounds of the house. In the latter part of the 20th century Ampthill served as a Cheshire Home for the Disabled. The house was divided into four homes between 1979 and 1980, when the main block was split into two dwellings (The Hollands and Ashburnham) and each wing was converted into a home, The Ossory and Chambers Wing. Ampthill Park was the burial place for the golden hare in the Kit Williams treasure hunt "Masquerade."
Architect: William Winde (Wynne)
Date: 1706Architect: Robert Grumbold
Date: 1680sArchitect: William Oldham Chambers
Date: 1768-72John Preston (J.P.) Neale, published under the title of Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. I, 1818.
Country Life: CL, 1085, 1971. Feb 4 & 11, 2026.
Title: Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, A - HARDBACK
Author: Colvin, Howard
Year Published: 2008
Reference: pgs. 243, 455, 665, 1135
Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
ISBN: 9780300125085
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Goodwood: Art and Architecture, Sport and Family
Author: Baird, Rosemary
Year Published: 2007
Reference: pg. 105
Publisher: London: Frances Lincoln Limited
ISBN: 9780711227699
Book Type: Hardback
House Listed: Grade II*
Park Listed: Grade II
Past Seat / Home of: Robert Bruce, 1st Earl of Ailesbury and 2nd Earl of Elgin, until 1685. John Ashburnham, 1st Baron Ashburnham, until 1710. John FitzPatrick, 1st Earl of Upper Ossory, until 1758; John FitzPatrick, 2nd Earl of Upper Ossory, 1758-1818. Henry Richard Vassall-Fox, 3rd Baron Holland, 1818-40.
Current Ownership Type: Other
Primary Current Ownership Use: Flats / Multi Family
Ownership Details: Converted into four homes 1979-80
House Open to Public: No
Historic Houses Member: No