House & Family History: Melbury House was sold in 1500 by William Bruning to Henry Strangways. The House has sections ranging from the 1540s to the 1880s; its core, however, is the nine-bay Portland stone block of the 1690s by John Watson. The House also contains much of the contents of Holland House, London, as well as part of the contents of Serlby Hall in Nottinghamshire. Melbury was the birthplace of Henry Fox Talbot, the pioneer of photography. Thomas Hardy used Melbury as the model for King's Hintock Court in chapter 10 ("The Duke's Reappearance") of "A Changed Man and Other Tales."

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. II, p. 158, 1855.

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: 2.S. Vol. IV, 1828.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Not Listed

Current Seat / Home of: Charlotte Morrison

Past Seat / Home of: William Bruning, early 16th century. Sir Giles Strangways, 16th century; William Thomas Horner Fox-Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester, 19th century.

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home

House Open to Public: Limited Access to Grounds Only

Historic Houses Member: No