An 1821 engraving of the second (current) house from "Neale's Views of the Seats of the Noblemen and Gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland"
The second house and park from a 1794 engraving
Earlier Houses: There was an earlier 17th century house on the site that was built for Sir John Kederminster, chief steward of the manor of Langley Park.
Built / Designed For: Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough
House & Family History: In 1738 Lord Masham sold the Langley Estate to the 3rd Duke of Marlborough, who erected the current house between 1755 and 1758. The house was the Marlboroughs' secondary seat for only a short time; it was sold by the 4th Duke in 1788. Circa 1850-60 the single story quadrant wings were added in ashlar. During World War II the house was used as the Home Guard's South East Regional Headquarters, and then, in 1944, as headquarters of the Polish units preparing for D-Day. In 1945 the estate was purchased by the Buckinghamshire County Council. In 1983 Langley was leased for 99 years for use as commercial offices, but from 2001 became unused. In 2003 permission was granted for the house to be used as a naturopathic clinic, but this never proceeded. In 2004 the leasehold was sold for £2.4 million and the house was used for commercial purposes, primarily offices. In 2018 Langley Park reopened as a luxury hotel. Located one mile south of the famous Pinewood Studios, the house and country park are popular filming locations.
Garden & Outbuildings: There is a friends group for the grounds: https://www.friendsoflangleypark.co.uk. The following were all built for the 3rd Duke of Marlborough: the Black Park, designed by Thomas Greening; the Palladian style Temple, designed by Roger Morris in 1742; and the Stone House of 1775 designed by Stiff Leadbetter. Capability Brown landscaped the formal park for the 4th Duke. Robert Grenville may have designed the Oriental gardens. Frederick Pepys Cockerell created the viewing columns in the Anglo-Indian style in 1864.
Architect: Stiff Leadbetter
Date: 1755-75Architect: Roger Morris
Date: 1742Architect: Frederick Pepys Cockerell
Date: 1864Architect: Robert Grenville
Designed: Oriental gardensJohn 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. 39, 1852.
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. I, 1818.
Title: Blenheim Revisited: The Spencer-Churchills and their Palace
Author: Montgomery-Massingberd, Hugh
Year Published: 1985
Reference: pg. 76, 92
Publisher: New York: Beaufort Books
ISBN: 0825302978
Book Type: Hardback
Title: No Voice From the Hall: Early Memories of a Country House Snooper
Author: Harris, John
Year Published: 1998
Publisher: London: John Murray
ISBN: 0719555671
Book Type: Hardback
House Listed: Grade II*
Park Listed: Grade II
Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSE: Sir John Kederminster, 17th century. Parsons family, 1626-69. Sir Henry Seymour, 1669-1714. Samuel Masham, 1st Baron Masham, 1714-38. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough, 1758; George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough, 1758-88. Sir Robert Bateson-Harvey, 1st Bt., 19th century; Bateson-Harvey family here from 1788 until 1945.
Current Ownership Type: Corporation
Primary Current Ownership Use: Hotel
Ownership Details: Today The Langley, A Luxury Collection Hotel, part of the Marriott group.
House Open to Public: By Appointment
Phone: 02072-363-636
Website: https://www.marriott.com
Historic Houses Member: No