Gatcombe Park

The main building, constructed from natural stone, was erected between 1771 and 1774 for Edward Sheppard. In 1814, the estate passed into the possession of the Ricardo family. In 1940, the textile industrialist and art collector Samuel Courtauld acquired Gatcombe Park. Later, his son-in-law, Lord Butler, inherited the estate and held it until 1976. Subsequently, Queen Elizabeth II purchased the country house and its agricultural operation for Princess Anne and her then-husband Mark Phillips. After renovations, the couple moved into the estate in November 1977. In 1978, the adjacent Aston Farm was acquired, expanding the total area to three square kilometers.