Latimer, near Chesham
Buckinghamshire
England
Circa Date: 1834-38, probably incorporating earlier elements, w/20th century alterations
Status: Fully Extant
House Open to Public: By Appointment
Country House: Yes
Earlier Houses: There were a number of earlier houses; the last of these burned in the 1830s and was replaced by the current house.
Built / Designed For: Charles Compton Cavendish
House & Family History: After his arrest for treason, Charles I was taken to Latimer House, where he was hosted by the 3rd Earl of Devonshire. During World War II Latimer was requisitioned by the government and used as a center for secret military intelligence, specifically as a country club prison for captured German generals and staff officers. During this time many of the rooms in the house were equipped with hidden microphones and listening devices, enabling the British military to gather important information from the German military elite. Throughout the war 10,000 prisoners were recorded at Latimer House, including Rudolf Hess, Hitler’s second in command. In 1951 the British government purchased the house from the Cavendish family and converted it for use as the National Defence College, a purpose it served until 1983, when it was sold and converted into a conference center. Latimer House is today a hotel.
Architect: Edward Blore
Date: 1841-42John 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. 243, 1852.
Title: Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, A - HARDBACK
Author: Colvin, Howard
Year Published: 2008
Reference: pgs. 131, 134
Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
ISBN: 9780300125085
Book Type: Hardback
House Listed: Grade II
Park Listed: Grade II
Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSES: William Cavendish, 1st Earl of Devonshire, until 1626; William Cavendish, 2nd Earl of Devonshire, 1626-28; William Cavendish, 3rd Earl of Devonshire, 1628-84; William Cavendish, 4th Earl of Devonshire and 1st Duke of Devonshire, 1684-1707; William Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Devonshire, 1707-29. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: Charles Compton Cavendish, 1st Baron Chesham, 19th century; Cavendish family here from 1615 until 1951.
Current Ownership Type: Corporation
Primary Current Ownership Use: Hotel
Ownership Details: Today De Vere Latimer Estate
House Open to Public: By Appointment
Phone: 01494-545-500
Website: https://www.devere.co.uk/
Historic Houses Member: No