House & Family History: John Evelyn, who was born at Wotton in 1620, was a famous diarist and one of the principal literary sources of the life and manners of 17th century England. He wrote about architecture, art, fashion, agriculture, and pollution. His most noted work is 1664's "Silva: or a Discourse of Forest-Trees, and the Propagation of Timber," the first important work on conservation, published at a time when England's forests were being stripped of timber to build ships for the burgeoning Royal Navy. A friend of Charles II, Evelyn was a cosmopolitan and sophisticated man who traveled in an influential circle that included Samuel Pepys, the 3rd Earl of Burlington, and Christopher Wren. He was a founder of the Royal Society and one of the prime movers in the creation of the Chelsea and Greenwich Hospitals. The skincare firm Crabtree & Evelyn, founded in 1973 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was partially named in honor of John Evelyn in recognition of his work in conservation and gardening. (Evelyn lived at Sayes Court, Deptford, from 1652 until 1694, where he created his world-famous garden.) Wotton was let to the Fire Service Training College 1947-80 and to Telecom Training between 1981 and 1986. The house is today a hotel and conference center.

Collections: The library was sold at Christie's in 1977. Robert Walker's 1648 portrait of John Evelyn was sold to the National Portrait Gallery for £294,184. During a visit to Florence in the 1640s John Evelyn commissioned a grand ebony cabinet with ormolu panels and pietra dura that was once in the collection at Wotton House. The cabinet, now called the John Evelyn Cabinet, is today in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. It is likely that it was in this cabinet that Evelyn’s famous diaries were found after his death.

Garden & Outbuildings: The gardens laid out by John Evelyn in the 17th century have been greatly altered.

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. I, p. 176, 1854.

House Listed: Grade II*

Park Listed: Grade II*

Past Seat / Home of: George Evelyn I, until 1603; Richard Evelyn, 1603-40; George Evelyn II, 1640-99; John Evelyn, 1699-1706; Sir John Evelyn, 1st Bt., 1706-63; Sir John Evelyn, 2nd Bt., 1763-67; Sir Frederick Evelyn, 3rd Bt., 1767-1812.

Current Ownership Type: Corporation

Primary Current Ownership Use: Hotel

Ownership Details: Today Wotton House Country House Estate Hotel

House Open to Public: By Appointment

Phone: 01306-730-000

Website: https://wottonhouse.co.uk

Historic Houses Member: No