Earlier Houses: An earlier house, the half-timbered Hodnet Old Hall, was demolished in 1870, when the current house was built. The site of Hodnet Old Hall is now occupied by the Camellia Garden.

House & Family History: In 1947 the Heber-Percys (the family is descended from the dukes of Northumberland) sold Guys Cliffe House in Warwickshire, keeping Hodnet as their primary seat. Still the family seat today, Hodnet is possibly most famous as the birthplace of Robert Vernon Heber-Percy (1911-86), the youngest son of Algernon Heber-Percy. Robert, known as "Boy" (the character Boy in Nancy Mitford's "The Pursuit of Love" was inspired by Heber-Percy), received notoriety as the companion and lover of Gerald Tyrwhitt-Wilson, 14th Lord Berners, and lived with him at Faringdon House, Oxfordshire, which he inherited in 1950 upon the death of Lord Berners. The current Lady Heber-Percy is a daughter of the late Viscount Leverhulme, whose family founded Unilever.

Garden & Outbuildings: Hodnet features contain 60 acres of flower gardens featuring rhododendrons, camellias, daffodils, and magnolias. The garden was the winner of the HHA/Christie's Garden of the Year Award in 1985. The portico from Apley Castle, Wellington, Shropshire, was moved and re-erected here as an eye-catcher.

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. 159, 1852.

House Listed: Not Listed

Park Listed: Grade II

Current Seat / Home of: Sir Algernon Heber-Percy

Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSE: Vernon family, until 1750s. Richard Heber, 1752-66; Reginald Heber, 1766-1826. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: Brigadier General Algernon George William Heber-Percy, until 1961.

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home

House Open to Public: Limited Access to Grounds Only

Phone: 01630-685-786

Fax: 01630-685-853

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.hodnethallgardens.org

Awards: Christie's/HHA Garden of the Year Award 1985.

Historic Houses Member: Yes