The garden facade from "Morris's County Seats," circa 1875.
The entrance facade from a circa 1919 postcard
A 1779-90 engraving of the house and estate from "The Modern Universal British Traveller"
A 1734-43 side table from Ditchley designed by Henry Flitcroft. Today in the collection of the V&A.
The 1726 scagliola tabletop, with the Lee arms, from Henry Flitcroft's side table from Ditchley. Today in the collection of the V&A.
Table from Ditchley Park, today in the collection of Temple Newsam.
Earlier Houses: There was an earlier house on the site of the current house. It was this house that Queen Elizabeth I visited in 1592, and it was at this house that John Wilmot, the brilliant poet and infamous libertine 2nd Earl of Rochester, was born on April 1, 1647 (his father, Henry, 2nd Viscount Wilmot, was created 1st Earl of Rochester in 1652 for his military service to Charles II during the king's exile after the English Civil War).
Built / Designed For: 2nd Earl of Litchfield
House & Family History: Ditchley was the famous home of Ronald Tree and Nancy Peabody Tree in the 1930s. Mr. Tree purchased the estate from Viscount Dillon for £30,000 when he was married to interior decorator and trend-setter Nancy Lancaster. Churchill spent his weekends at Ditchley throughout World War II because it was considered safer than his official residence at Chequers, which was an easier target for German bombers.
Collections: A circa 1740 oval mirror, formerly in the collection at Ditchley, was at Clarence House as part of the collection of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. A table, designed for Ditchley by Henry Flitcroft (see "Images" section), is today in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum. The famous "Ditchley Portrait" of Queen Elizabeth I by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger (see "Images") is today in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London. The full-length portrait of the queen was commissioned by Sir Henry Lee in 1592 to commemorate her visit to Ditchley Park.
Comments: Ditchley is generally considered James Gibbs's most important surviving country house.
Garden & Outbuildings: Lee Place, originally part of the Ditchley Estate, was the dower house for Ditchley Park. It's a 17th century house that was remodeled and refronted in the 1720s at the same time that Ditchley itself was being rebuilt by Francis Smith and James Gibbs. Though no records for Lee Place survive, it is probable that the 1720s work on the house was supervised by Francis Smith. The Lee Place stables are extant and feature a central wooden hexagonal cupola/clock tower of 1725 that is very similar in design to the turrets on the side wings at Ditchley Park.
Architect: Geoffrey Alan Jellicoe
Date: 1933Architect: Francis Smith
Date: 1720-42Architect: William Kent
Date: 1725-27Architect: James Gibbs
Date: 1720-42Architect: Henry Flitcroft
Date: 1736-41John 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: 2.S. Vol. I, p. 84, 1854.
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: XVI, 594, 1904. LXXIII, 490 [Paintings], 515 [Furniture], 1933. LXXV, 590, 622, 1934.
Title: Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother at Clarence House
Author: Cornforth, John
Year Published: 1996
Reference: pg. 32
Publisher: London: Michael Joseph Ltd.
ISBN: 0718141911
Book Type: Hardback
Title: This Other Eden: Paintings From the Yale Center for British Art
Author: Warner, Malcolm; Alexander, Julia Marciari
Year Published: 1998
Reference: pg. 24
Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
ISBN: 0300074980
Book Type: Hardback
Title: English Gardens in the Twentieth Century From the Archives of Country Life
Author: Richardson, Tim
Year Published: 2005
Reference: pg. 104
Publisher: London: Aurum Press
ISBN: 1845130715
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, A - SOFTBACK
Author: Colvin, Howard
Year Published: 1995
Reference: pgs. 887-888
Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
ISBN: 0300072074
Book Type: Softback
Title: Buildings of England: Oxfordshire, The
Author: Sherwood, Jennifer; Pevsner, Nikolaus
Year Published: 1974
Reference: pg. 528
Publisher: London: Penguin Books
ISBN: 0140710450
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Blenheim Revisited: The Spencer-Churchills and their Palace
Author: Montgomery-Massingberd, Hugh
Year Published: 1985
Reference: pg. 205
Publisher: New York: Beaufort Books
ISBN: 0825302978
Book Type: Hardback
House Listed: Grade I
Park Listed: Grade II*
Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSE: Sir Henry Lee, 16th century. Henry Wilmot, 1st Earl of Rochester and 2nd Viscount Wilmot, 17th century. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: George Lee, 2nd Earl of Lichfield, 19th century. Eric FitzGerald Dillon, 19th Viscount Dillon, 20th century. Ronald Tree & Nancy Peabody Tree, 1930s. Nancy Lancaster, 20th century.
Current Ownership Type: Charity / Nonprofit
Primary Current Ownership Use: Conference Center
Ownership Details: Owned by the Ditchley Foundation
House Open to Public: By Appointment
Phone: 01608-677-346
Fax: 01608-677-399
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.ditchley.com/
Historic Houses Member: No