Benham Park, Newbury, England

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

HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT

The manor of Benham Valence was obtained in about 1630 by the trustees of Sir William Craven (1608-97), in whose family it remained until the mid 20th century. The sixth Lord Craven built Benham Place in the 1770s, employing Henry Holland as his architect, newly entered into partnership in 1772 with Lancelot Brown who laid out the grounds. Between September 1771 and May 1774 Brown was paid £7150, although this may have included payment for minor works in the house (Stroud 1975). In the late 19th century a formal, terraced layout was created within the gardens, possibly by William Andrews Nesfield (Brown 1983). The house, having stood empty since 1946 following its requisition for military use during the Second World War, was sold in 1982, becoming the headquarters of an international company. The company partly renovated the grounds, building several new office blocks close to the house and demolishing the stable block. The grounds are now (1998) in divided ownership.