Earlier Houses: There was an earlier house on, or near, the site of the current house.

Built / Designed For: George Duke

House & Family History: Notable for its 16th century exterior of chequerwork knapped flint and Chilmark limestone (the same stone used for Salisbury Cathedral), the L-shaped Lake House's most spectacular interior is the 1930s dining room. Once used by Sting as a recording studio, the dining room has early 17th century paneling and a 1620s carved stone chimneypiece that features St. George slaying the dragon. Originally from a merchant's house in Bristol, the chimneypiece was acquired in the 1930s by Col. Frederick George Glyn Bailey at a sale of architectural fragments at Cadbury Hall in Gloucester. Col. Bailey, who owned Lake House between 1928 and 1951, was a son of Sir James Bailey, who founded The Bailey's Hotel in London. Though there's no absolute proof that Baileys Irish Cream (the best-selling liqueur in the world) was named after a 1970s London restaurant (Baileys Bistro) owned by John Chesterman, the fictitious R.A. Bailey signature that appeared on each bottle was indeed inspired by the famous Kensington hotel. Lake House was purchased by musician Sting (most famous as lead singer for The Police) and his wife Trudie Styler in 1991. Sting composed all the songs on his album "Ten Summoner's Tales" in the house (one of the songs, "Fields of Gold," was inspired by the landscape of Lake House). In 1999 Ms. Styler co-authored "The Lake House Cookbook" with her chef, Joseph Sponzo. Jeremy Musson's magisterial 2021 book, "Romantics & Classics: Style in the English Country House," features a chapter on Lake House.

Comments: Christopher Hussey called Lake House "...a late Gothic masterpiece."

Garden & Outbuildings: The gardens, which were redesigned with advice from Arabella Lennox-Boyd for Trudie Styler, were featured in Victoria Summerley's 2017 book, "Secret Gardeners: Britain's Creatives Reveal Their Private Sanctuaries." In the 2020s Isabel and Julian Bannerman designed a new garden at Lake House. Sting and Ms. Styler operate an organic farm on the estate.

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: 2.S. Vol. I, p. 63, 1854.

Country Life: XXIII, 198, 1908. LXXXI, 326, 352 plan, 1927.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Grade II

Current Seat / Home of: Sting (Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner) and his wife, Trudie Styler; here since 1991.

Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSE: Robert de Palton, 15th century. John Cheyne, 15th century. John Capelyn, 16th century. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: George Duke, 16th century; The Rev. Edward Duke, until 1895. Percy Illingworth (tenant), early 20th century. Joseph Williams Lovibond, 1897-1918. Edward Priaulx Tennant, 1st Baron Glenconner, 1918; Pamela Tennant, Baroness Glenconner, 1918-28. Lt. Col. Frederick George Glyn Bailey, 1928-51; Bailey family here until 1991.

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home

House Open to Public: No

Historic Houses Member: No