Earlier Houses: Northbrook House, an older family house which stood about a mile away from the current house, was demolished when Kirtlington Park was built.

Built / Designed For: Sir James Dashwood, 2nd Bt.

House & Family History: Kirtlington is a Palladian style house of nine bays and two stories over a rusticated basement that was built of local stone for Sir James Dashwood in the mid-18th century. Sir James was a Tory and a Jacobite with very traditional, conservative views; he held events at Kirtlington to support Bonnie Prince Charlie's claim to the British throne (he even planted Scottish fir trees at Kirtlington to show his Jacobite [traitorous] loyalties) and actively worked against laws that gave religious toleration to Jews in Britain. Kirtlington's piano nobile on the entrance facade is approached by a double staircase that spans the full width of the house, while walls link the main block with square pavilions topped with cupolas. The garden facade is notable for its pediment with swags of flowers and the Dashwood arms in the tympanum. Though the architects credited with its design are William Smith the Younger and John Sanderson, their work is much indebted to the designs of James Gibbs, who submitted plans (unused) to Sir James in 1741. In 1754 the Dashwoods fell upon hard times and were unable to finish the interiors; however, the work that had been completed was of the highest quality. The dining room, designed by John Sanderson and featuring Rococo stucco work attributed to Thomas Roberts of Oxford, was sold and removed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City in 1931, where it remains on display today (a copy of the original dining room was later installed in the house). The famous Monkey Room was decorated by the French artist J.F. Clermont in 1745; it contains monkey huntsmen with the theme of the four seasons. Fireplaces were installed by Sir Henry Cheere and John Cheere in 1746 and 1748. Christopher Buxton, one of the pioneers of 20th century country house conversions and restorations, made Kirtlington his seat until his death in 2017.

Collections: An extremely fine panel carving of dead game and fish by Grinling Gibbons is set into the overmantel of the entrance hall, where it has probably been since Kirtlington was built in 1742. The panel very likely came from the family's earlier seat of Northbrook House, demolished at the time Kirtlington was built. A set of six circa 1760–65 Chippendale Gothick style walnut chairs, and matching settee, probably made as garden chairs for a folly or garden building at Kirtlington, are today in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (see "Images" section).

Garden & Outbuildings: In the early 18th century Thomas Greening drew up plans for a formal style park that were never implemented. Capability Brown landscaped the park in the mid-18th century.

Vitruvius Britannicus: C. IV, pls. 32-36, 1767.

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: Vol. II, p. 6, 1853.

Country Life: XXXI, 542 plan, 1912.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Grade II

Current Seat / Home of: Peter and Eleanor Buxton

Past Seat / Home of: Sir James Dashwood, 2nd Bt., 1745-79; Sir Henry Watkin Dashwood, 3rd Bt., 1779-1828; Sir George Henry Dashwood, 4th Bt., 1828-61; Sir Henry William Dashwood, 5th Bt., 1861-89; Sir George John Egerton Dashwood, 6th Bt., 1889-1909. Archibald Alexander Leslie-Melville, 13th Earl of Leven and 12th Earl of Melville, 20th century. Christopher Buxton, until 2017.

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Wedding & Event Venue

House Open to Public: By Appointment

Phone: 01869-350-236

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://kirtlingtonpark.co.uk/

Historic Houses Member: No