Somerley House

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 of Birth: 1789
Date of Death: 1870
Nationality: British
Notes: Son of Robert Burn. William Burn's nephew, John McVicar Anderson, was the successor of his architecture practice.

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 of Birth: Jul 11, 1835
Date of Death: Jun 9, 1915
Nationality: British
Notes: Anderson was the successor to the architecture practice of his uncle, William Burn.

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 of Birth: 1737
Date of Death: 1807
Nationality: British

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" (2020-23 - 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, as interiors of Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace).
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

House, Family & Collections History

Gardens, Outbuildings, Chapel & Church History

Architects

Historic Publications References

Bibliography / Reading List for this House

Listings for House & Park

Location for Film & TV

Families Who’ve Lived Here / Current Ownership Type & Use

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