Stanford Hall, Rugby, England

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

HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT

In 1540 the manor of Stanford was purchased by Sir Thomas Cave, who until 1539 had held it of Selby Abbey. His great-great-grandson, Thomas, was created baronet in 1641. Sir Thomas’s son Roger (died 1703), who had inherited in 1670 and served as MP for Coventry in 1681 and 1685, built the present Hall on a new site in the last years of the 17th century. Sir Roger’s son, Thomas, died in 1719 (when the great parlour was still being done up), but his widow lived on until 1774, outliving their elder son Sir Verney Cave (disappeared 1734). He was succeeded by his brother Thomas, fifth baronet, barrister and antiquary, who in 1737 added the stables complex and later landscaped the park and added the kitchen garden. He died in 1778, and his son, also Thomas, sixth baronet, in 1780. He was succeeded by his son Thomas, seventh baronet (died 1792), and he by his sister Sarah Cave, third Baroness Braye (died 1862). Stanford remains (1998) in private hands.