Badminton House

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Badminton House in the 19th century.

Badminton House is a large country house in Gloucestershire, England and has been the principal seat of the Dukes of Beaufort since the late 17th century. The architect William Kent renovated and extended the house in the Palladian style in the early 18th century, but many earlier elements remain.^[1] The sport of Badminton was re-introduced from India and popularised at the house, hence the sport's name.^[2]

Queen Mary stayed at Badminton House for much of the Second World War. Her staff occupied most of the building, to the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort's inconvenience.

In the 21st century Badminton House is best known for the annual Badminton Horse Trials.

Badminton House is also very strongly associated with fox hunting. Successive Dukes of Beaufort have been masters of the Beaufort Hunt, which is probably one of the two most famous hunts in the United Kingdom alongside the Quorn Hunt.

Badminton was open to the public at one time, but is not at present (as of 2007).