Only Two Rooms Remaining
Monday, April 24 to Friday, April 28
Trip to Devon and Cornwall
We will be staying at Ugbrooke House, which has a history covering 900 years and remains the private family home of Lord and Lady Clifford, a house rich in outstanding Adam interiors, fine paintings, furniture and a Capability Brown park.
This wild and remote area of England has a long history of piracy and smuggling which often provided the only source of income for the people living by the coasts. Over the centuries, tin mining developed and the living improved enabling some great houses to be built in the 17th and 18th centuries. A highlight of this tour is the number of houses and their families that are particularly rich in American connections. As we all know, you don't have to look very long into the history of many great British houses before you find that American dollars have come to the rescue.
We are going to be staying at an absolutely stunning house in east Devon — the ultimate in period luxury. It is Ugbrooke House, the private family home of Lord and Lady Clifford, and we will have it all to ourselves… living like the Georgians. This is an area very rich in wonderful houses with some very entertaining owners keen to share their American family connections.
On the way down from London, we will begin the tour by having lunch with the Duke of Somerset who will also show us round his family home, Bradley House, and its outbuildings, one of which contains the magnificent family state coach.
Only a few miles from Ugbrooke House is the family home of Lord Dartmouth who is the son of Countess Spencer (Princess Diana's stepmother). Elizabeth Washington, the mother of one of his ancestors, the 1st Baron Legge, was related to George Washington.
A few miles in the other direction is the ancient home of the Fulford family for over 800 years where we will meet the current owner, the very entertaining and eccentric Francis Fulford.
We will have a day in the beautiful area of Fowey with its glorious harbour and spectacular coastline with all its connections to Daphne du Maurier and her famous novels. A special private visit has been arranged to the house that inspired Manderley in her novel, Rebecca.
We also hope to visit Powderham Castle where the Earl of Devon will give us a private tour.
Ugbrooke House itself is truly magnificent as you can see from the attached photos. The rooms are all of an equally high standard, some containing four poster beds. We will dine in the State Dining Room and on the final evening we will be entertained at a gala dinner hosted by Lord and Lady Clifford and their family.
Further details of the other houses we will be visiting will be issued shortly.
Please let us know as soon as you can if you are interested and I will send you a booking form with further details. All-in prices are as follows:
Standard double room: $4,800 pp
Luxury 4 poster bed room: $5,300 pp
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