Courting favour... At Domesday West Horsley Place was granted to the Keeper of Windsor Castle, it was later confiscated by Richard II from a descendant but restored to his widow whose daughter married a great grandson of Edward III, his grandson forfeited it to Henry VIII who granted it to his cousin Henry Courtenay but got it back after Courtenay was outmanoeuvred by Thomas Cromwell and beheaded. He gave it to another courtier Sir Anthony Browne whose initials and badge survive in the plasterwork, his son was created Viscount Montague by Mary I for services he rendered to Elizabeth I on her succession too. He lost the house in the Civil War and it was bought by Sir Walter Raleigh’s son who was responsible for the mid C17th brick facades thrown up to mask the half timbering. Raleigh sold the house to Sir Edward Nicholas, a Secretary of State to both Charles I and II. His descendants eventually sold it in 1921 to Lady Cooper who in turn sold to Lord Crewe. His daughter lived here alone for many years having divorced the 9th Duke of Roxburghe but filled it in the summer months with fun and friends who included the Queen Mother whose canopy she had carried at the coronation of George VI. To his surprise Bamber Gascogne was her heir and on inheriting, the condition of the house and the death duties owing prompted a great sale of the contents (excluding the important library which was left to Trinity, Cambridge) and the future of the house has now been vested in the Mary Roxburghe Trust. Much repair has taken place and the interiors await a little ‘care’ - what level this should take is a fascinating dilemma which hovers between ‘leave in suspended animation’ to redecorate to host events to contribute to its own upkeep. I can only wish the project well - all of history is here and the place has a special atmosphere, methinks. @westhorsleyplace @westhorsleyplaceevents #onthepaintroad #historicbuildingsenrichourlives