DiCamillo Companion
England

Somerley House

Somerley, near Downton

Hampshire

England

Circa Date: 1792-95 w/19th & 20th century alterations and additions

Status: Partially Extant

Some of the Victorian additions were demolished in the 1950s

House Open to Public: By Appointment

Country House: Yes

This house has been used for TV and Film Historic Houses Member

The house from a 1917 postcard

Joshua Reynolds, Lady Elizabeth Hamilton, 1758. Widener Collection, National Gallery of Art, Washington. This image is in the public domain.

  • Built / Designed For: David Hobson

    Collections: Somerley houses an important collection of paintings, furniture, and porcelain. Joshua Reynolds's 18th century portrait of Lady Elizabeth Hamilton (see "Images" section), which once hung at Somerley, is today in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington.

  • Garden & Outbuildings: The Somerley Estate covers 7,000 acres and is one of the largest estates in southern England.

  • Architect: William Burn

    Date: 1869-70
    Designed: Alterations and additions for 3rd Earl of Northampton (partly demolished circa 1955)

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    Architect: John MacVicar Anderson

    Date: 1870-74
    Designed: Continued work of William Burn for 3rd Earl of Normanton (partly demolished circa 1955)

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    Architect: Samuel Wyatt

    Date: 1792-95
    Designed: House for David Hobson

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  • Country Life: CXXIII, 108 plan, 156, 202, 1958.

  • Title: Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, A - SOFTBACK
    Author: Colvin, Howard
    Year Published: 1995
    Reference: pg. 192
    Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
    ISBN: 0300072074
    Book Type: Softback

    Title: Disintegration of a Heritage: Country Houses and their Collections, 1979-1992, The
    Author: Sayer, Michael
    Year Published: 1993
    Publisher: Norfolk: Michael Russell (Publishing)
    ISBN: 0859551970
    Book Type: Hardback

  • House Listed: Grade II*

    Park Listed: Not Listed

  • "Mansfield Park" (1983 - BBC TV mini series, as Mansfield Park exteriors and some interiors). "The Crown" (2020 - TV series, as Highgrove House). "Bridgerton" (2020 - TV series, as Hampstead Heath and the interiors of Somerset House). "Red, White & Royal Blue" (2023 - TV movie; the picture gallery was used as the space in Buckingham Palace where the king confronts Prince Henry).

  • Current Seat / Home of: James Shaun Christian Welbore Ellis-Agar, 7th Earl of Normanton; Agar family here since the 18th century.

    Past Seat / Home of: David Hobson, 18th century. Welbore Ellis-Agar, 2nd Earl of Normanton, until 1868; James Charles Herbert Welbore Ellis-Agar, 3rd Earl of Normanton, until 1896; Edward John Sidney Christian Welbore Ellis-Agar, 5th Earl of Normanton, until 1967.

    Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

    Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home

    Ownership Details: The house is available for private bookings.

  • House Open to Public: By Appointment

    Phone: 01425-473-621

    Fax: 01425-476-613

    Email: [email protected]

    Website: https://somerley.com/

    Historic Houses Member: Yes

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