Claydon House

Claydon House was built by the 2nd Lord Verney in 1768 on land that had been owned by his family since the 15th century.

He first built a stable block and then altered the old manor-house. Finally he began his major project for a 250 foot west wing designed by Thomas Robinson of Rokeby Hall, in Yorkshire.

This was to include a ballroom and a hall with an observatory above it. However, he ran out of money before it was completed and when the property was inherited by his niece some of the unfinished building was demolished.

The delightful building seen today is one block of the original house. The sober exterior gives no hint of the magnificent decoration within. The carpenter-contractor Luke Lightfoot produced wood carving of amazing delicacy and detail and Claydon House has some of the most amazing decorative carving of any house in Britain.

The Chinese Room is the most astonishing. The famous stuccoist Joseph Rose is responsible for the beautiful plasterwork in the saloon, library and stairwell. The stairs are decorated with mahogany, ebony and ivory parquetry and the ironwork balustrade has a garland of ears of corn so delicate than they rustle when someone walks upstairs.

The house remained in the Verney family until it was given to the National Trust in 1956.

Florence Nightingale was a frequent visitor to Claydon House after her sister married Sir Henry Verney in 1858.

The house has a display of many objects associated with her and her experiences in the Crimean War.