The History of Claydon House
The origins of the estate at Middle Claydon date back to 1463, when the manor was purchased by Sir Ralph Verney, the Lord Mayor of London. While a Tudor brick H-shaped manor house existed on the site in 1539, the Verney family has maintained Claydon House as their ancestral home since 1620. The lineage of the current Verney family descends from Sir Harry Calvert, 2nd Baronet, who inherited the estate in 1827.
The house holds a Grade I listing on the National Heritage List for England. Throughout the centuries, the property has undergone significant changes, including a period of rebuilding that began in 1757. In 1956, Sir Ralph Verney, 5th Baronet, transferred ownership of the house to the National Trust. The estate remains a significant site in mid-Buckinghamshire, located near the village of Middle Claydon in the United Kingdom.
The Architecture of the Estate
The current structure was built between 1757 and 1771. The exterior is composed of seven bays and two floors, featuring a prominent three-bay central elevation topped with a pediment. Sash windows define the fenestration, with the ground floor windows crowned by small round windows. In 1759, Lord Verney constructed a new stone-faced west wing to house a suite of state apartments. Following 1768, the house was expanded to include a central rotunda entrance hall and a ballroom wing.
Interior design reflects specific stylistic interests of the period. The first floor contains a Chinese room decorated in the chinoiserie style, featuring carved pagodas, Chinese fretwork, bells, and temples. The estate's grounds are significant, with the gardens listed Grade II on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.
