Earlier Houses: The current house sits on the site of a house of the earl of Pembroke of circa 1560, which itself replaced a palace of the bishops of Salisbury.

Built / Designed For: Sir William Jones

House & Family History: Ramsbury Manor is a brick house with stone dressings built for Sir William Jones, attorney general to Charles II. In 1800 Ramsbury passed to the Burdett family, who were seated here until 1951, when Sir Francis Burdett died. During the 19th century the House was the seat of Angela Burdett-Coutts (1814–1906), the richest woman in England. In the 1930s Queen Mary visited Mrs. Pleydell Bouverie (who was probably leasing the House from the Burdetts) at Ramsbury. In the mid-20th century Ramsbury was sold to Lord Wilton, who, in 1958, sold it to baron Rootes. In 1964 it was purchased, together with 460 acres, by Harry Hyams for £650,000 in what was then a record price for a private house (the 1966 edition of "The Guinness Book of Records" called Ramsbury "the most expensive house in Britain"). In 1950 the last of the Great Western Railway's Manor Class steam locomotives to be built was named Ramsbury Manor (it was removed from service in December 1965). It has been reported frequently in the press that Mr. Hyams intends to leave the House and its art collection to the nation when he and his wife Kay are dead (they have no children).

Collections: The collection at Ramsbury includes works by Turner, Gainsborough, Goya, Titian, Rubens, Picasso, and Rembrandt, and is considered one of greatest private art collections in Britain, possibly second only to the Royal Collection. On February 1, 2006, thieves from the infamous Johnson Gang raided Ramsbury Manor and made away with approximately 300 museum-grade artifacts worth an estimated £80 million in what is believed to be the largest property theft in British history. On March 25, 2008, approximately 30% of the stolen property, about 140 items, was discovered in an underground bunker built on wasteland at Black Hill, near Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. The gang was later caught and convicted and in August 2008 received long prison sentences.

Comments: Described by Pevsner as "A perfect example of the moderate-sized brick mansion of about 1680."

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. V, 1822.

Country Life: XXII, 198, 1907. XLVIII, 432, 468, 1920. CXXX, 1376, 1526, 1580, 1961.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Grade II

Current Seat / Home of: Harry Hyams; here since 1964.

Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSES: Bishop of Salisbury. William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke, 16th century. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: Sir William Jones, late 17th century. Sir Francis Burdett, 19th century; Angela Burdett-Coutts, 19th century; Burdett family (Burdett-Coutts family) here 1800-1951. Mrs. Pleydell Bouverie, 20th century. Seymour William Arthur John Egerton, 7th Earl of Wilton, 20th century. William Edward Rootes, 1st Baron Rootes, 20th century.

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home

House Open to Public: No

Historic Houses Member: No