Late last year I visited the National Trust property of Stourhead, near Mere in Wiltshire. Built between 1721-1725, it holds a strong family connection for me, as my great great grandfather, a ranger, had at one time been employed by the Hoare banking family to tend to their forestry reserves.
It is a beautiful house and even more stunning gardens, even in winter. The architecture of the house is Palladian, while the library is well noted as the finest example of Regency design in all of the UK. The origin of Regency came from:
“George, Prince of Wales, became Regent in 1811, following the prolonged illness of his father George III. His title gave the name to the period. The Prince Regent was a leader of fashion and as a major patron and collector he helped established the taste for Regency Classicism. He spent great sums on his lavish residences, commissioning works from the major painters, architects, designers and interior decorators of his day.”
V&A Museum style guide
The style was influenced by ancient Roman motifs such as scrolls, flowers and leaves. The library was a late addition to the house, incorporated to house the ever-expanding art collection and Hoare’s catalogues of antiques, artworks, books, maps and journals of his own travels. It contains many Chippendale furniture pieces.
The Hoare & Co bank still operates today. It publishes fascinating and insightful histories from it’s extensive archive. More fascinating still is the banking practices of one Jane Austen whose family was a long-time customer of Hoare & Co.
Happy reading !
alexdee me 
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