The House from an early 20th century postcard
The 1911 royal warrant issued to Dobbie and Company by the Board of Green Cloth, signed the 10th Earl of Chesterfield.
Vermeil casters from the 4th Earl of Chesterfield's ambassadorial service, today in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
The 3rd Earl Stanhope from a circa 1915 Ardath Tobacco card
A print of a Stanhope Press from a circa 1820 British dictionary
A 1940s American Chesterfield tin cigarette case. The Chesterfield name was used on more branded products in America than any other British aristocratic title.
House & Family History: Chevening has been attributed for years to Inigo Jones, a claim that Howard Colvin dismissed. Chevening's architect, whomever it might have been it, very likely influenced the design of Kingston Lacy House. Chevening House was bequeathed to the government in 1967 by the 7th Earl Stanhope on the condition that it be used by the prime minister, a cabinet minister, or a descendant of King George VI as a government retreat house. Chevening has been the official country residence of the British foreign secretary since 1979. The 3rd Earl Stanhope was an accomplished scientist who studied mathematics under Georges-Louis Le Sage at University of Geneva in the 18th century. In 1779 Lord Stanhope published “Principles of Electricity,” which outlined his theory on the "return stroke” – the results from the contact with the earth of the electric current of lightning. Lord Stanhope is most famous today for his circa 1800 invention of the Stanhope Press (see print in "Images" section), the first hand press made entirely out of iron, which significantly improved the efficiency of the hand press.
Architect: Alexander Fort
Date: 1717 or 1718Architect: James Wyatt
Date: 1786-96Vitruvius Britannicus: C. II, pl. 85, 1717.
John Bernard (J.B.) Burke, published under the title of A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. I, p. 61, 1852.
Country Life: XLVII, 512, 548, 586, 627 [Library], 1920. CXXV, 1312, 1959. CXLIII, 102, 1968.
Title: Walford's County Families of the United Kingdom, 1914
Author: NA
Year Published: 1914
Reference: pg. 1127
Publisher: London: Spottiswoode & Co.
ISBN: NA
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Irish Georgian Society Newsletter
Author: NA
Year Published: NA
Reference: Summer 2004, pg. 6
Publisher: Dublin: Irish Georgian Society
ISBN: NA
Book Type: Magazine
House Listed: Grade I
Park Listed: Grade II
Past Seat / Home of: James Stanhope, 1st Earl Stanhope, 18th century; Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl Stanhope, until 1816; James Richard Stanhope, 13th Earl of Chesterfield and 7th Earl Stanhope, 20th century; Stanhope family here until 1967.
Current Ownership Type: Government
Primary Current Ownership Use: Other
Ownership Details: Country residence of the British foreign secretary
House Open to Public: Limited Access to Grounds Only
Historic Houses Member: No