West Wycombe Park

United Kingdom / England / High Wycombe /
 park, estate (manor / mansion land), National Trust property (UK), Grade I Listed (UK)

West Wycombe Park is a Grade I listed country house near the village of West Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, England. Built between 1740 and 1800 as a pleasure palace for the decadent 18th century libertine and dilettante Sir Francis Dashwood, the house is long and rectangular, and all four façades are columned and pedimented, three theatrically so. The house combines and encapsulates the entire progression of British 18th century architecture from early idiosyncratic Palladian to the Neoclassical, although anomalies in the design of the house make it architecturally unique. It is in an 18th century landscaped park, surrounded by smaller temples that act as satellites to the greater temple, the house.

The house was given to the National Trust in 1943 by Sir John Dashwood, 10th Baronet (1896–1966), an action strongly resented by his heir

A statue in the garden was moved in about 1800 to Philadelphia.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   51°38'32"N   -0°48'7"E
This article was last modified 14 years ago