Dorneywood

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Dorneywood is an 18th-century house near Burnham in southern Berkshire. [1] Originally a Georgian farmhouse, it has Victorian and later additions, and following a fire in 1910, was remodelled in 1919 by Sir Robert Lorimer. [2] It is a Grade II listed building. [3]

Contents

It was given to the National Trust by Lord Courtauld-Thomson in 1947 as a grace-and-favour country home for a senior member of the Government, usually a Secretary of State or Minister of the Crown. [4] [5] The Dorneywood Trust has the objective of 'maintaining the mansion house and gardens of Dorneywood'. [6]

Occupancy of the house

The Prime Minister alone has the right to decide which Minister or Secretary of State is to occupy the house. In previous administrations it has been the residence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer and, prior to 31 May 2006, was occupied by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. Prescott was forced to relinquish occupancy of Dorneywood, following a series of scandals over an affair with civil servant Tracey Temple and a snatched paparazzi photograph of him playing croquet on the lawn of the property whilst the Prime Minister Tony Blair was out of the country on a visit to Washington. [7] However, given the controversies over John Prescott's use of the house, senior politicians were reluctant to use it. [7] [8] The house was eventually taken over by Alistair Darling, Chancellor of the Exchequer when Gordon Brown became Prime Minister in 2007. [9] "A spokesman for Mr Brown ... explained that the house ... was owned by a trust, and would revert first to the Lord Mayor of London and then to the American Ambassador, if the Chancellor did not want it." [10]

Various former Prime Ministers (before achieving the premiership) have occupied the house, among them Anthony Eden. On becoming Prime Minister, Alec Douglas-Home was reluctant to forsake the more comfortable and modern Dorneywood for the antique splendours of Chequers. Another, James Callaghan as Foreign Secretary, also had the use of Dorneywood (later Chevening was to become the official country home for the holder of that office).

In 2010, George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, took occupancy of the house. [11] It was also used by Osborne's successors, Philip Hammond, Sajid Javid, and Rishi Sunak. [12] [13]

Interior

A Rex Whistler mural at Dorneywood Rex Whistler - Ave Silvae Dornii 1928.jpg
A Rex Whistler mural at Dorneywood

The interior of the house contains some decorations by Rex Whistler, as well as paintings and furniture belonging to the Government Art Collection. There is also furniture belonging to the National Trust.

Grounds

The National Trust arranges public tours of the house and gardens during the summer. The estate consists of the house and 215 acres (87 ha) [14] of parkland, woodland and farmland. The grounds are noted for their cottage and kitchen garden, as well as their herbaceous borders and rose displays. [15] [16] The upkeep of the estate is in part supported by the Dorneywood Thomson Endowment Trust Fund. [17]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Pevsner, Nikolaus; Elizabeth Williamson; Geoffrey K Brandwood (1994) [1960]. Buckinghamshire (2nd ed.). London: Penguin Books. p. 211. ISBN   0-14-071062-0.
  2. ↑ Dictionary of Scottish Architects: Robert Lorimer
  3. ↑ Historic England. "Dorneywood (Grade II) (1332660)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  4. ↑ "UK | UK Politics | Dorneywood: A ministerial retreat". BBC News. 1 June 2006. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "Visitor information". National Trust. Archived from the original on 11 September 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  6. ↑ 2008 Accounts and Annual Report [ permanent dead link ]
  7. 1 2 "Prescott Gives Up Dorneywood Home". News.sky.com. 1 June 2006. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  8. ↑ "The Times & The Sunday Times". Archived from the original on 4 June 2010.
  9. ↑ Telegraph, 18 May 2010, "Grace-and-favour-homes"
  10. ↑ Independent, 13 June 1997, "Grace... but should they still be in favour?"
  11. ↑ "Hague and Clegg given timeshare of official residence". BBC News. 18 May 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  12. ↑ Mason, Rowena; Sparrow, Andrew (18 July 2016). "Boris Johnson forced to share mansion with Liam Fox and David Davis". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  13. ↑ "Past Residents".
  14. ↑ Burnham Parish Council – Local History Archived 1 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ↑ England (4 June 2013). "DORNEYWOOD GARDEN in Burnham, England. Page: 1". British-towns.net. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  16. ↑ "Dorneywood Garden – History, Travel, and accommodation information". Britainexpress.com. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  17. ↑ Stone, Ollie (1 June 2006). "UK | UK Politics | What are grace-and-favour homes?". BBC News. Retrieved 13 June 2013.

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