Adlestrop Park, Moreton-in-Marsh, England

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

HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT

Adlestrop, formerly monastic land, has been owned by members of the Leigh family since 1553. Soon after he succeeded his father in 1623 William Leigh (died 1690) took up residence here, perhaps converting a barn south-east of the church into a house. From this time until the early 19th century, when James Henry Leigh MP (died 1823) inherited Stoneleigh Abbey, Warwickshire (see separate description of this site in the Register), the family were usually resident here.

From William Leigh it passed to successive elder sons: Theophilus (died 1725), who may have laid out formal gardens; William (died 1757), for whom Sanderson Miller enlarged the house and Samuel Driver laid out gardens; James (died 1774); James Henry (died 1823), who with his uncle Thomas Leigh, the rector, brought in Humphry Repton (1752-1818) in 1798 to improve Adlestrop; and Chandos, created Lord Leigh (died 1850), for whom W. A. Nesfield (1793-1881) made alterations and laid out a parterre. Thereafter the manor descended with the peerage until about 1960 when Lord Leigh made over the estate to his eldest son. It remains (1999) in private ownership.