Shugborough, Stafford, England

The following is from the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.

HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT

Shugborough, which in the Middle Ages was one of the manors of the bishops of Lichfield, was purchased in 1624 by William Anson, a lawyer. In 1694 his grandson, also William, who married Isabella, the co-heiress of Charles Carrier of Wirksworth, rebuilt the Hall.

He died in 1720 and was succeeded by his son Thomas, who for the remaining 53 years of his life devoted his energies to building, planting and collecting, making Shugborough into one of the finest landscapes in the country. Here, successively, were introduced some of the country's first Chinoiserie, then Picturesque Rococo, and finally neo-classical garden buildings. Anson was able to greatly expand the scale of these works after 1762, when he inherited the fortune which had been built up by his younger brother George, Admiral Anson, 'the father of the British Navy'.

Thomas's heir was his nephew George, who assumed the name and arms of Anson. He died in 1789 and was succeeded by his son Thomas Anson (died 1818), who in 1806 was created Viscount Anson and Baron Somerton and who married Anne Margaret Coke, daughter of the celebrated Norfolk improver. Under Thomas the Hall was remodelled, the park further enhanced, and improving estate buildings erected.

His son, Thomas William Anson (died 1854), who was created Earl of Lichfield in 1813, ran through much of the family fortune and in 1842 racing debts precipitated a massive sale of Shugborough's contents. In 1960, on the 4th Earl's death, the Hall, park and contents were offered in part payment of death duties to the National Trust, which in turn leased the property to Staffordshire County Council. The Hall continues (1997) in part to be lived in as a family home.