Dorneywood
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dorneywood is a moderately large Queen Anne style house built in 1920, near Burnham in Buckinghamshire. It was gifted to the National Trust by Lord Courtauld-Thomson in 1947 as a country home for a senior member of the Government, usually a Secretary of State or Minister of the Crown.
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[edit] Occupancy of the house
The Prime Minister alone decides 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 May 31, 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.
Various former Prime Ministers (before achieving the premiership) have occupied the house, among them Anthony Eden; he and his wife had disliked the house. However, 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). The last person to have lived at the house before becoming Prime Minister was John Major.
[edit] Interior
The interior of the house contains some stunning 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.
The house is not open to the public.
[edit] The grounds
The National Trust markets the property under the name "Dorneywood Garden". The estate consists of the house and approximately 200 acres (0.8 km²) of parkland, woodland and farmland. The 1930s-style gardens are open to the public by written appointment only on four days a year. The grounds are noted for their cottage and kitchen garden, as well as their herbaceous borders and rose displays.
The upkeep of the estate is in part supported by the Dorneywood Thomson Endowment Trust Fund.
