Goodwood House is a magnificent Regency mansion set in beautiful wooded parkland at the foot of the South Downs.
Built of flint, with copper topped round towers, it is an unusually striking house, which contains a fabulous art collection.
The estate is the seat of the Dukes of Richmond, one of four ducal houses to be descended from the illegitimate children of King Charles II.
The 1st Duke of Richmond and Lennox, born in 1672, was the son of the King and his beautiful French mistress, Louise de Keroualle, whom he created Duchess of Portsmouth.
In 1697 the 1st Duke purchased the Goodwood estate of 1,000 acres, with a modest early 17th century house which he wanted to use as a hunting lodge.
The house was extended by his son, the 2nd Duke, with a classical wing to the south. The 2nd Duke also built follies and a much smaller hunting lodge in the neighbouring village of Charlton, where the hunt was based.
The 3rd Duke inherited on his father's death in 1750. While Ambassador in Paris he acquired fabulous newly made French furniture, tapestries and porcelain, the latter specially commissioned by him at the Sèvres factory.
He engaged Sir William Chambers to build the great stable block, increased the estate to 17,000 acres, added a new wing, and then, due to the destruction of his London home by fire, set about increasing the existing house to the scale at which it is now to be seen.
The 3rd Duke also introduced horse racing at Goodwood, high up on the Downs, first with a private meeting in 1801 and then a public one in 1802.
However his great expenditure proved disastrous: when he died in 1806 the house was unfinished and his estate had debts of £180,000.
The interior was not completed until the 1820s and 30s. In 1836 the 5th Duke received a vast inheritance through his mother, of the Highland estates of the Duke of Gordon. This did much to restore the family fortune.
The 6th Duke was created by Queen Victoria 1st Duke of Gordon of a new creation, since when each Duke has been known as the Duke of Richmond and Gordon.
The 9th Duke was especially famous for founding the Goodwood motor circuit, on the perimeter of the Goodwood wartime airfield. It ran from 1948-1966, and was reopened fifty years later to the day, in September 1998, by his grandson the Earl of March, for historic motor racing.
The estate is now just over 11,000 acres large.
It plays host to a wide variety of activities which continue to include horseracing and motor racing, as well as flying, shooting and golf. It is the setting for some of the most well-loved events of the social season.
In late July at the Racecourse Glorious Goodwood sees top jockeys, trainers and horses compete on what has been called 'the most beautiful racecourse in the world'.
In motor racing the Festival of Speed and Revival Meeting are known for their informal and friendly atmosphere and have become firm seasonal fixtures. The hospitality at Goodwood continues to be legendary.
All sporting activities are now linked together for members by their ability to use the Kennels, the newly restored Goodwood Sporting Club.
2008:23 Mar-6 Oct: Sun & Mon 13:00-17:00 by guided tour but occasionally stewarded. 3-31 Aug: stewarded on Sun & Mon, guided tours Tue-Thur. Guided tours last 1 hour (last tour 16:00). May alter times & Dates check Recorded Information on 01243 755040
Tel: Recorded Information on 01243 755040 Goodwood House Website
