The Entrance Facade from an 1803 hand-colored copper engraved print from "The Beauties of England and Wales"
Boulle cabinet-on-stand, circa 1680, originally at Wrotham, today in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
Built / Designed For: Admiral John Byng
House & Family History: Wrotham is a Palladian house designed by Isaac Ware in 1754 and built for Admiral John Byng (fourth son of Admiral Sir George Byng), who was famously executed in 1757 after the failure of his inadequately equipped expedition to relieve Minorca from the French. He was tried by his own government for cowardice and negligence of duty, for which there was a mandatory death sentence. This act of judicial murder prompted Voltaire's famous phrase "In this country it pays well, from time to time, to kill an Admiral to encourage the others." Wrotham is today still owned by the Byng family and is the largest privately-owned house in the Home Counties. The House is used frequently for the filming of movies and television programs. In the autumn of 2009 Simon Cowell held his 50th birthday party at Wrotham, with entertainment by Earth, Wind and Fire and nearly 400 guests, including Kate Moss, Ryan Seacrest, and Randy Jackson.
Collections: Pieter de Hooch's "Courtyard of a House in Delft" was sold at Christie's on December 11, 1992 for £4.4 million. A Boulle cabinet-on-stand, made in Paris circa 1680, and once in the collection at Wrotham, is today in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. The giltwood cabinet features Egyptian style monopodia supports that were added circa 1795 and is an example of the highest level of furniture produced by Andre-Charles Boulle for the court of Louis XIV.
Garden & Outbuildings: Wrotham is set in a park of 2,500 acres.
Vitruvius Britannicus: C. V, pls. 45, 46, 1771.
Country Life: XLIV, 404, 458, 462 [Pictures], 1918.
Title: Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, A - SOFTBACK
Author: Colvin, Howard
Year Published: 1995
Reference: pg. 1023
Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
ISBN: 0300072074
Book Type: Softback
Title: Vogue (American magazine)
Author: NA
Year Published: NA
Reference: Aug 2003, pg. 270
Publisher: New York: The Conde Nast Publications
ISBN: NA
Book Type: Magazine
Title: Movie Locations: A Guide to Britain & Ireland
Author: Adams, Mark
Year Published: 2000
Publisher: London: Boxtree
ISBN: 0752271695
Book Type: Softback
Title: No Voice From the Hall: Early Memories of a Country House Snooper
Author: Harris, John
Year Published: 1998
Publisher: London: John Murray
ISBN: 0719555671
Book Type: Hardback
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: Grade II
Seat of: Robert Byng
Past Seat of: Major General George Byng, 3rd Viscount Torrington, 18th century.
Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust
Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home
Ownership Details: Available for functions and movie location filming.
House Open to Public: By Appointment
Phone: 02084-410-755
Fax: 02084-499-359
Email: info@wrothampark.com
Website: http://www.wrothampark.com
Historic Houses Member: No