DiCamillo Companion
England

Aynhoe Park (Aynho Park)

  • Earlier Houses: There was at least one earlier house on, or near, the site of the current house, including one that was destroyed by defeated Royalists during the Civil War (in 1645, after the Battle of Naseby) and replaced with the present house.

    House & Family History: Between 1960, when it was purchased by the Country Houses Association, and 2004, when CHA collapsed, the house served as a retirement community. In 2006 James Perkins purchased Aynhoe Park; he used the house as his home and also made it available as a wedding and corporate event venue. In 2020 the American company RH (formerly Restoration Hardware) purchased Aynhoe; in 2023 RH opened the house as an entertainment and dining destination.

    Collections: When owned by the Cartwright family, Aynhoe contained an outstanding collection of paintings, including works by Murillo, van Dyck, Rembrandt, Hogarth, Romney, and Gainsborough. There were also important collections of European glass and china, furniture and tapestries, rare Chinese monochrome porcelain, and other oriental ceramics. These collections have all been dispersed.

  • Garden & Outbuildings: The house sits within a 73-acre estate. In the early 21st century RH converted the brew house and stablebock into a restaurant.

  • Architect: John Lumley

    Date: Circa 1698
    Designed: Unknown work
    (Attribution of this work is uncertain)
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    Architect: Raymond Charles Erith

    Date: 20th century
    Designed: Pediment on house and alterations to Friars Well

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    Architect: Humphry Repton

    Date: 1790s
    Designed: Landscaping
    (Attribution of this work is uncertain)
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    Architect: Lancelot Brown

    Date: 1760-63
    Designed: Park for William Cartwright

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    Architect: Edward Marshall

    Date: Probably 1650s
    Designed: Supervised rebuilding of house for John Cartwright after damage sustained during Civil War
    (Attribution of this work is uncertain)
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    Architect: Thomas Archer

    Date: 1707-14
    Designed: Library, conservatory, stableblock, and coach house for Thomas Cartwright

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    Architect: John Soane

    Date: 1799-1804
    Designed: Remodeled interiors and altered exterior for William Ralph Cartwright

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  • John 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. III. 1820.

    Country Life: CXIV, 42, 122, 202, 1953.

  • Title: Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, A - HARDBACK
    Author: Colvin, Howard
    Year Published: 2008
    Reference: pgs. 72, 665, 680, 968
    Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
    ISBN: 9780300125085
    Book Type: Hardback

  • House Listed: Grade I

    Park Listed: Grade II

  • Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSES: Geoffrey de Mandeville, 11th century. John FitzRobert, 13th century. Richard Fitzalan, 3rd (or 8th) Earl of Arundel, 14th century. Rowland Shakerley, 1540-circa 1572; Shakerley Marmion I, circa 1572-1615. Richard Cartwright, 1615-37; John Cartwright, 1637-50. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: John Cartwright, 1651-76; Thomas Cartwright, 1676-1748; William Cartwright, 1748-68; William Ralph Cartwright, until 1847; Sir Thomas Cartwright, 1847-50; William Cornwallis Cartwright, 1850-1915; Cartwright family here from 1615 until 1954. James Perkins, 2006-20.

    Current Ownership Type: Corporation

    Primary Current Ownership Use: Mixed Use

    Ownership Details: Since 2023 operated as RH England, The Gallery at Aynho Park, a dining, hospitality, and exhbition venue.

  • House Open to Public: Yes

    Phone: 08002-793-707

    Website: https://rh.com/us/en/

    Awards: Voted number 3 in the Top 10 Regal Wedding Venues in the UK in 2011 by "The Times."

    Historic Houses Member: No

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