Built / Designed For: 6th Duke of Bedford
House & Family History: This famous cottage ornée was built for the 6th Duke of Bedford in the early 19th century and remained in the Russell family until the early 1950s, when it was sold to a salmon fishing club. The Endsleigh Club sold the Estate in March 2004 for a reputed £3.5 million to Olga Polizzi (daughter of Lord Forte of Trust House Forte), who turned the House into an exclusive 14-bedroom hotel and opened it to the public in June of 2005. The contents, designed for the House, were auctioned by Christie's and raised approximately £650,000. Ms. Polizzi purchased a couple of plaster statuettes; the remainder of the contents went to disparate bidders. Before the contents were auctioned Endsleigh was considered one of the most important and complete Regency houses in Britain.
Collections: The contents, designed for the House, were auctioned by Christie's in 2004 and brought approximately £650,000.
Comments: Bridget Cherry, writing in "The Buildings of England: Devon": "The situation of Endsleigh can hardly be matched."
Garden & Outbuildings: The grounds at Endsleigh, including the arboretum and terraces, today comprising a total of 108 acres. The grounds were laid out in 1814 by Humphry Repton, whose Red Book of 1814 survives. The many garden buildings were designed by Jeffry Wyatville and include the Shell Grotto, the Swiss Cottage (a thatched roof building now run as a holiday cottage by The Landmark Trust), the Dairy Dell, the Pond Cottages, the octagonal Dairy with its loggia, and the Holy Well, a small stone building that incorporates Medieval fragments from Leigh Barton.
Architect: Jeffry Wyatville (Wyattville) (Wyatt)
Date: 1810John 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: CXXX, 246, 296, 1961
Title: Daily Telegraph, The
Author: NA
Year Published: NA
Reference: Mar 19, 2005, Property Section, pgs. 1,2
Publisher: London: Telegraph Group Ltd.
ISBN: NA
Book Type: Newspaper
Title: Sunday Telegraph, The (newspaper)
Author: NA
Year Published: NA
Reference: News Section, Jan 11, 2004, pg. 32
Publisher: London: Telegraph Group Ltd.
ISBN: NA
Book Type: Newspaper
Title: England's Lost Houses From the Archives of Country Life
Author: Worsley, Giles
Year Published: 2002
Reference: pg. 10
Publisher: London: Aurum Press
ISBN: 1854108204
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Buildings of England: Devon, The
Author: Pevsner, Nikolaus; Cherry, Bridget; Nairn, Judy
Year Published: 1989
Reference: pgs. 352-354
Publisher: London: Penguin
ISBN: 0140710507
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Country Life: 100 Favourite Houses
Author: Green, Candida Lycett
Year Published: 1999
Publisher: London: Boxtree
ISBN: 0752213334
Book Type: Hardback
House Listed: Grade I
Park Listed: Grade I
Past Seat / Home of: John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford, 19th century.
Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust
Primary Current Ownership Use: Hotel
Ownership Details: Today Hotel Endsleigh
House Open to Public: By Appointment
Phone: 01822-870-000
Fax: 01822-870-578
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.hotelendsleigh.com
Historic Houses Member: No