Bulstrode Park

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Bulstrode Park is a large park to the northwest of the Buckinghamshire town of Gerrard's Cross in the English Home Counties. It dates back to before the Norman conquest.

The previous house was built in 1686 for the infamous Judge Jeffreys. It was sold to Hans the first Earl of Portland, who made it one of his principal residences. Bulstrode was used by Margaret Bentinck, the wife of the 2nd Duke to house her natural history and antiquities collection, with the south-west side of the park used for live specimens (called Menagerie Wood today).

When the fourth Duke of Portland inherited the title in 1809 he disposed of Bulstrode. It then passed into the hands of the Dukes of Somerset, related to Jane Seymour. The 12th Duke of Somerset, Edward Adolphus Seymour commissioned the present mansion, completed in 1865. After his death it passed to his daughter, Lady Helen Guendolen Ramsden and then to her son, Sir John Frecheville Ramsden, until he lost his fortune. In 1932 the estate was sold. Outlying buildings were sold, but the house was unoccuped until World War II, when it was used for training by the WAAF. After the War, Sir John used part of the property for chemical research into sisal by-products, but the property fell into disrepair. After his death in 1958, the park was sold to a farmer, and the mansion and woodland wer bought by the Bruderhof society of brothers, who supported themselves with light industry. In 1966 they moved to the USA, and the property was bought by WEC International, a Christian evangelical missionary agency, who have renovated the property. It is open to the public every May Bank Holiday Monday. More on the house history in a publication called 'Bulstrode Guide' available from the house. Bulstrode, Oxford Road, Gerrards Cross, Bucks SL9 8SZ Further details from the WEC website: WEC International