The Burrell Baronets of Knepp

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Sir William Burrell 2nd Bt. of Valentines (1789), MP, 17321796 (aged 63 years)

Name
Sir William /Burrell/ 2nd Bt. of Valentines (1789), MP
Name prefix
Sir
Given names
William
Surname
Burrell
Name suffix
2nd Bt. of Valentines (1789), MP
Family with parents
father
Peter Burrell's memorial at Holy Trinity Church, Cuckfield, West Sussex, England.
16921756
Birth: 1692 42 31 Beckenham, London Borough of Bromley, London, England
Death: 16 April 1756England
mother
St. George's Church, Beckenham, Kent, England.
16991789
Birth: 1699 25 England
Death: 16 August 1789England
Marriage Marriage14 August 1723England
13 months
elder brother
Peter Burrell's memorial at Holy Trinity Church, Cuckfield, West Sussex, England.
17241775
Birth: 27 August 1724 32 25 Beckenham, London Borough of Bromley, London, England
Death: 6 November 1775England
2 years
elder brother
7 years
himself
Sir William Burrell 2nd Bt. of Valentines, MP.
17321796
Birth: 10 October 1732 40 33 City of London, London, England
Death: 20 January 1796Dorking, Surrey, England
7 years
younger brother
sister
sister
Family with Lady Sophia Raymond
himself
Sir William Burrell 2nd Bt. of Valentines, MP.
17321796
Birth: 10 October 1732 40 33 City of London, London, England
Death: 20 January 1796Dorking, Surrey, England
wife
Lady Sophia Raymond
17531802
Birth: 11 April 1753 40 35 Upton, Bexleyheath, London Borough of Bexley, London, England
Death: 20 June 1802Cowes, Isle of Wight, England
Marriage Marriage13 April 1773England
13 months
son
Sir Charles Merrik Burrell 3rd Baronet Raymond of Valentines, MP
17741862
Birth: 21 May 1774 41 21 Golden Square, Soho, City of Westminster, London, England
Death: 4 January 1862Shipley, Sussex, England
19 months
son
17751777
Birth: 23 December 1775 43 22 England
Death: 24 August 1777England
16 months
son
St. George's Church, West Grinstead, West Sussex, England.
17771831
Birth: 15 April 1777 44 24 England
Death: 7 April 1831West Grinstead, Sussex, England
2 years
son
Captain Percy Burrell's memorial at Holy Trinity Church, Cuckfield, West Sussex, England.
17791807
Birth: 5 July 1779 46 26 Sussex, England
Death: 5 July 1807Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
3 years
daughter
1782
Birth: 11 July 1782 49 29 England
Death:
5 years
son
17871787
Birth: 14 August 1787 54 34 England
Death: after 14 August 1787England
2 years
daughter
1789
Birth: 5 October 1789 56 36 England
Death:
William Clay + Lady Sophia Raymond
wife’s husband
17651836
Birth: 1765England
Death: 1836England
wife
Lady Sophia Raymond
17531802
Birth: 11 April 1753 40 35 Upton, Bexleyheath, London Borough of Bexley, London, England
Death: 20 June 1802Cowes, Isle of Wight, England
Marriage Marriage23 May 1797Marylebone, City of Westminster, London, England
Birth
Address: East India House, Leadenhall Street, City of London, London, England.
Baptism
Address: St. Peter's upon Cornhill, Cornhill, City of London, London, England.
Occupation
Knight Antiquary and Barrister.
Occupation
Director.
INDI:OCCU:CORP: South Sea Company.
Occupation
INDI:OCCU:CORP: Doctors' Commons.
Address: Knight Rider Street, City of London, London, England.
Note: Located a short distance to the south of St Paul's Cathedral.
Death of a maternal grandfather
Address: Saling Hall, Great Saling, Essex, England.
Birth of a brother
Education
Educated at Westminster School under the Rev. Dr. Nicol.
1743
Address: Westminster School, Little Dean's Yard, Westminster, City of Westminster, London, England.
Education
Fellow Commoner at St. John's College.
1749
Education
Graduated LLB.
1755
Death of a father
Education
Graduated LLD.
1760
Occupation
MP for Haslemere.
1768
Marriage
Occupation
Commissioner of Excise.
1774
Birth of a son
Death of a brother
Birth of a son
Birth of a son
Death of a son
Birth of a son
Birth of a daughter
Birth of a son
Death of a son
Property
Knepp Castle Estate
1789
Address: Knepp Castle Estate, Shipley, West Sussex, England.
Property
Address: Foxgrove Farm, Beckenham, Kent, England.
Death of a mother
Birth of a daughter
Property
Address: The Deepdene, Dorking, Surrey, England.
Death
Cause of death: Probably after suffering from a series of strokes, the first of which occurred in 1777.
Last change
12 December 202108:52:43
Author of last change: Danny
Occupation

Located a short distance to the south of St Paul's Cathedral.

Note

By the time he came of age, William had family connections with all three of the great chartered commercial companies of the City of London in the eighteenth century, The Bank of England, The South Sea Company and The East India Company; with several of the principal insurance companies; with the House of Commons; and with the connecting world of government borrowing and contracting.

Sir William inherited his Baronetcy and Knepp Castle Estate from his father-in-law, Sir Charles Raymond, in 1789. He inherited Foxgrove Farm from his mother in the same year and bought The Deepdene in 1791. He later sold Foxgrove Farm to his nephew, Sir Peter Burrell.

His collection of antiques (including nine super-folio volumes of paintings by Samuel Heironymus Grimm and James Lambert - commissioned for his incomplete works on the history of Sussex) and a transcript relating to Danny Manor, can be seen at the British Museum.

The Burrell Arms shown below, created in 1774, show a helmet on top with the visor open, indicating a Baron. Family Arms at this time were simplified in their detail. The original can be seen under the Rev. Gerard Burrell.

Published in 1990, ‘Bromley, A Pictorial View’ by Patricia E. Knowlden, includes an old topographical map of Bromley and Beckenham dated 1769. Interestingly, located in the southern part of Beckenham near what appears to be the estate of William Burrell Esq., is a place or church called ‘The Temple’.

A William Burrell has been recorded as the keeper of Knepp Park in 1449.

Another William Burrell has been recorded as the keeper of Knepp Park between 1499-1529 when 93 deer died of murrain.

Written on the memorial at Holy Trinity Church:

Sacred to the memory of Sir William Burrell Bt. LLD Chancellor of Worcester and Rochester, Member of Parliament for Haslemere, and afterwards Commissioner of the Board of Excise. He was 3rd son of Peter Burrell Esq., of Beckenham in Kent, and of Amy, his wife, daughter of Hugh Raymond Esq. He married Sophia, eldest daughter and coheiress of Sir Charles Raymond Bt. by whom he had five sons and two daughters.

Charles Merrik b. 24/05/1774
William Raymond b. 23/12/1775 d. 24/08/1777
Walter b. 15/04/1777
Percy b. 06/07/1779
Juliana b.11/07/1782
Peter Algernon b. 14/08/1787 d. 09/1787
Elizabeth Amelia b.05/10/1789

He lived universally respected, giving an example to the world of all that is truly excellent, and departed this life at his seat, the Deepdene, near Dorking in Surrey, 20/01/1796 aged 63 years. He was buried in the family vault at West Grinsteadin Sussex.

Written on the memorial at St. George's Church:

In sacred memory of Sir William Burrell Bt. of the Deepdene in Surrey (The son of Peter Burrell Esq., of Beckenham in Kent, and of Amy, daughter of Hugh Raymond Esq.). He married Sophia, eldest daughter of Sir Charles Raymond Bt., by whom hehad 5 sons and 2 daughters departed this life 20/01/1796 aged 63.

Let those whose reverence minds like his,
endowed with all that makes men eminently good, worth, honour, justice, all that endear,
secure esteem, or claim affections tear,
with pious step approach the tomb of one who most was honoured, where he best was known;
one in every character the same pursued a line of conduct free from blame
and left a bright example to mankind of all that dignifies the human mind.

In the same vault are deposited the remains of Sophia Raymond Lady Burrell, widow of Sir William Burrell Bt. (& late wife of William Claye CL) who at the age of 49 departed this mortal life on 20/06/1802 after a long and painful illness whichshe bore with that resignation which becomes a true Christian.

The memorial was sculpted by John Flaxman (1755-1826), whose largest works are in Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral. He's best known for his monument to Lord Nelson. Sir William's memorial was moved from St. Mary’s Church in 1891, under instruction from Sir Charles Raymond Burrell. It is in the style of Thomas Hope (he later also lived at The Deepdene - see Sir Charles Merrik Burrell for more information) of his Egyptian period.

Media object
Sir William Burrell 2nd Bt. of Valentines, MP.
Sir William Burrell 2nd Bt. of Valentines, MP.
Note: By the time he came of age, William had family connections with all three of the great chartered commercial companies of the City of London in the eighteenth century, The Bank of England, The South Sea Company and The East India Company; with several of the principal insurance companies; with the House of Commons; and with the connecting world of government borrowing and contracting.

By the time he came of age, William had family connections with all three of the great chartered commercial companies of the City of London in the eighteenth century, The Bank of England, The South Sea Company and The East India Company; with several of the principal insurance companies; with the House of Commons; and with the connecting world of government borrowing and contracting.

Sir William inherited his Baronetcy and Knepp Castle Estate from his father-in-law, Sir Charles Raymond, in 1789. He inherited Foxgrove Farm from his mother in the same year and bought The Deepdene in 1791. He later sold Foxgrove Farm to his nephew, Sir Peter Burrell.

His collection of antiques (including nine super-folio volumes of paintings by Samuel Heironymus Grimm and James Lambert - commissioned for his incomplete works on the history of Sussex) and a transcript relating to Danny Manor, can be seen at the British Museum.

Media object
East India House in Leadenhall Street, London - painted by Thomas Shepherd c.1828.
East India House in Leadenhall Street, London - painted by Thomas Shepherd c.1828.
Note: East India House in Leadenhall Street in the City of London in England was the headquarters of the British East India Company. It was built on the foundations of the Elizabethan mansion Craven House, the London residence of Sir William Craven, Lord Mayor of London, to designs by the merchant and amateur architect Theodore Jacobsen and completed in 1729. Much of British India was governed from here until the British government took control of the Company's possessions in India on November 1, 1858.

East India House in Leadenhall Street in the City of London in England was the headquarters of the British East India Company. It was built on the foundations of the Elizabethan mansion Craven House, the London residence of Sir William Craven, Lord Mayor of London, to designs by the merchant and amateur architect Theodore Jacobsen and completed in 1729. Much of British India was governed from here until the British government took control of the Company's possessions in India on November 1, 1858.

The exterior as Jacobsen originally designed it is known from a detailed wash drawing by Samuel Wale, ca 1760. Its five-bays were three storeys high, with an attic storey disguised behind the cornice balustrade. A giant order of Doric pilasters under an academically correct frieze of triglyphs demonstrated the East India Company's soundness and seriousness of purpose: the Directors' "aim was resolutely down to earth— to inspire confidence and impress the shareholders." The structure was unexpectedly deep, affording large meeting rooms and Directors' offices, as well as a hall, a courtyard and a garden, all of which could serve for receptions. The Directors' Court Room featured a marble chimneypiece with bearded term figures that supported the mantel shelf and an overmantel bas-relief panel, Britannia Receiving the Riches of the East, under a pediment, the work of Michael Rysbrack (1728–30). In the Directors' Court Room, six canvases by George Lambert appropriately illustrated the East India Company's main "factories": St. Helena, Cape Town, Fort William, Calcutta, Bombay, Madras and Tellicherry; East Indiamen in the foregrounds were painted by the marine artist Samuel Scott. Carvings in the interiors were carried out by John Boson.

An oval ceiling painting for the Revenue Committee Room, The East Offering Its Riches To Britannia, was painted by a little-known Greek artist Spiridone Roma in 1778.

With the growth of the East India Company, additional space was required, and adjoining structures to either side were purchased and pulled down; East India House was extended and refaced to designs commissioned, after some canvassing among John Soane and George Dance, from Henry Holland, though the Company's Surveyor, architect Richard Jupp, insisted in overseeing construction. Work began in 1796. After Jupp's sudden death in April 1799, the construction was completed by Henry Holland. The Company's museum was housed in one extension, the library in the other.

The building was put up for sale in 1858 and demolished in 1861; the site is now occupied by the Lloyd's building. Some of its fittings, art collection and furniture were moved to India House.

Media object
The Burrell Arms - a simplified version that was created in 1774.
The Burrell Arms - a simplified version that was created in 1774.
Note: The College of Arms, since 1634, have accepted the brass of The Rev.'s coat of arms as evidence of the family's right to bear them. "PER FLUCTUS AD ORAM", "Through waves to the shore".

The College of Arms, since 1634, have accepted the brass of The Rev.'s coat of arms as evidence of the family's right to bear them. "PER FLUCTUS AD ORAM", "Through waves to the shore".

The Burrell Arms shown, created in 1774, show a helmet on top with the visor open, indicating a Baron. Family Arms at this time were simplified in their detail. The original can be seen under the Rev. Gerard Burrell.

Media object
St. George's Church, West Grinstead, West Sussex, England.
St. George's Church, West Grinstead, West Sussex, England.
Media object
Holy Trinity Church, Cuckfield, West Sussex, England.
Holy Trinity Church, Cuckfield, West Sussex, England.
Media object
Sir William Burrell's Memorial at St. George's Church, West Grinstead, West Sussex, England.
Sir William Burrell's Memorial at St. George's Church, West Grinstead, West Sussex, England.
Note: In sacred memory of Sir William Burrell Bt. of the Deepdene in Surrey (The son of Peter Burrell Esq., of Beckenham in Kent, and of Amy, daughter of Hugh Raymond Esq.). He married Sophia, eldest daughter of Sir Charles Raymond Bt., by whom hehad 5 sons and 2 daughters departed this life 20/01/1796 aged 63.

In sacred memory of Sir William Burrell Bt. of the Deepdene in Surrey (The son of Peter Burrell Esq., of Beckenham in Kent, and of Amy, daughter of Hugh Raymond Esq.). He married Sophia, eldest daughter of Sir Charles Raymond Bt., by whom hehad 5 sons and 2 daughters departed this life 20/01/1796 aged 63.

Let those whose reverence minds like his,
endowed with all that makes men eminently good, worth, honour, justice, all that endear,
secure esteem, or claim affections tear,
with pious step approach the tomb of one who most was honoured, where he best was known;
one in every character the same pursued a line of conduct free from blame
and left a bright example to mankind of all that dignifies the human mind.

In the same vault are deposited the remains of Sophia Raymond Lady Burrell, widow of Sir William Burrell Bt. (& late wife of William Claye CL) who at the age of 49 departed this mortal life on 20/06/1802 after a long and painful illness which she bore with that resignation which becomes a true Christian.

The memorial was sculpted by John Flaxman (1755-1826), whose largest works are in Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral. He's best known for his monument to Lord Nelson. Sir William's memorial was moved from St. Mary’s Church in 1891, under instruction from Sir Charles Raymond Burrell. It is in the style of Thomas Hope (he later also lived at The Deepdene - see Sir Charles Merrik Burrell for more information) of his Egyptian period.

Media object
Sir William Burrell's memorial at Holy Trinity Church, Cuckfield, West Sussex, England.
Sir William Burrell's memorial at Holy Trinity Church, Cuckfield, West Sussex, England.
Note: Sacred to the memory of Sir William Burrell Bt. LLD Chancellor of Worcester and Rochester, Member of Parliament for Haslemere, and afterwards Commissioner of the Board of Excise. He was 3rd son of Peter Burrell Esq., of Beckenham in Kent, and of Amy, his wife, daughter of Hugh Raymond Esq. He married Sophia, eldest daughter and coheiress of Sir Charles Raymond Bt. by whom he had five sons and two daughters.

Sacred to the memory of Sir William Burrell Bt. LLD Chancellor of Worcester and Rochester, Member of Parliament for Haslemere, and afterwards Commissioner of the Board of Excise. He was 3rd son of Peter Burrell Esq., of Beckenham in Kent, and of Amy, his wife, daughter of Hugh Raymond Esq. He married Sophia, eldest daughter and coheiress of Sir Charles Raymond Bt. by whom he had five sons and two daughters.

Charles Merrik b. 24/05/1774
William Raymond b. 23/12/1775 d. 24/08/1777
Walter b. 15/04/1777
Percy b. 06/07/1779
Juliana b.11/07/1782
Peter Algernon b. 14/08/1787 d. 09/1787
Elizabeth Amelia b.05/10/1789

He lived universally respected, giving an example to the world of all that is truly excellent, and departed this life at his seat, the Deepdene, near Dorking in Surrey, 20/01/1796 aged 63 years. He was buried in the family vault at West Grinsteadin Sussex.

Media object
The Deepdene, Dorking, Surrey, England, in 1775 - painting located at Marylebone Cricket Club.
The Deepdene, Dorking, Surrey, England, in 1775 - painting located at Marylebone Cricket Club.
Note: Sir William Burrell bought The Deepdene in 1791 and permitted by an Act of Parliament, Sir Charles Burrell, William’s eldest son, sold the house to Sir Thomas Hope in 1807. The house passed to his son, Henry, and on his wife’s death passed to Lord Francis Hope-Pelham-Clinton, later the 8th Duke of Newcastle. He went bankrupt, and subsequently Lord William Beresford (3rd son of the Marquess of Waterford) leased the house. Almeric Paget leased the house from 1911 to 1914. The house and 50 acres were sold in 1920, and a further 2200 acres were soldin 1921. It was a hotel during the interwar years and sold to the Southern Railway Company in 1939, which later became part of British Rail. British Rail occupied the house until it was sold in 1967 to Federated Homes Ltd. It was demolished in1969.

Sir William Burrell bought The Deepdene in 1791 and permitted by an Act of Parliament, Sir Charles Burrell, William’s eldest son, sold the house to Sir Thomas Hope in 1807. The house passed to his son, Henry, and on his wife’s death passed to Lord Francis Hope-Pelham-Clinton, later the 8th Duke of Newcastle. He went bankrupt, and subsequently Lord William Beresford (3rd son of the Marquess of Waterford) leased the house. Almeric Paget leased the house from 1911 to 1914. The house and 50 acres were sold in 1920, and a further 2200 acres were soldin 1921. It was a hotel during the interwar years and sold to the Southern Railway Company in 1939, which later became part of British Rail. British Rail occupied the house until it was sold in 1967 to Federated Homes Ltd. It was demolished in1969.

Sir Thomas Hope, of Scottish Descent but born in the Netherlands in 1769, came from a rich banking family. He was an author and furniture designer. Anastasius, written in 1819, tells the story of a Greek hero, of considerable ability and courage,absolutely untroubled with conscience, who becomes renegade and goes through various adventures. Anastasius was attributed to Lord Byron and only credited to Sir Thomas Hope on his avowing it in Blackwood’s Magazine. He also wrote the book “Household Furniture and Interior Decoration” in 1807, and thus coined the phrase “Interior Decoration”. He died on 03/02/1831. The Victoria & Albert Museum, London, and the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, contain some of his collections.

Henry Hope, a collector of fine art and gems acquired the large blue diamond that carries his family’s name. The Hope Diamond, at 45.52 carats, is the world’s largest deep blue diamond, and is more than a billion years old. It is today in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.

Benjamin Disraeli, British Prime Minister in 1868 and 1874-80, wrote part of ‘Coningsby’, a political novel, at The Deepdene. His imperialist policies brought India directly under the crown and he was personally responsible for purchasing control of the Suez Canal. The central Conservative Party organisation is his creation.

Media object
Deepdene Gardens
Deepdene Gardens
Note: Sir William Burrell bought The Deepdene in 1791 and permitted by an Act of Parliament, Sir Charles Burrell, William’s eldest son, sold the house to Sir Thomas Hope in 1807. The house passed to his son, Henry, and on his wife’s death passed to Lord Francis Hope-Pelham-Clinton, later the 8th Duke of Newcastle. He went bankrupt, and subsequently Lord William Beresford (3rd son of the Marquess of Waterford) leased the house. Almeric Paget leased the house from 1911 to 1914. The house and 50 acres were sold in 1920, and a further 2200 acres were soldin 1921. It was a hotel during the interwar years and sold to the Southern Railway Company in 1939, which later became part of British Rail. British Rail occupied the house until it was sold in 1967 to Federated Homes Ltd. It was demolished in1969.

Sir William Burrell bought The Deepdene in 1791 and permitted by an Act of Parliament, Sir Charles Burrell, William’s eldest son, sold the house to Sir Thomas Hope in 1807. The house passed to his son, Henry, and on his wife’s death passed to Lord Francis Hope-Pelham-Clinton, later the 8th Duke of Newcastle. He went bankrupt, and subsequently Lord William Beresford (3rd son of the Marquess of Waterford) leased the house. Almeric Paget leased the house from 1911 to 1914. The house and 50 acres were sold in 1920, and a further 2200 acres were soldin 1921. It was a hotel during the interwar years and sold to the Southern Railway Company in 1939, which later became part of British Rail. British Rail occupied the house until it was sold in 1967 to Federated Homes Ltd. It was demolished in1969.

Sir Thomas Hope, of Scottish Descent but born in the Netherlands in 1769, came from a rich banking family. He was an author and furniture designer. Anastasius, written in 1819, tells the story of a Greek hero, of considerable ability and courage,absolutely untroubled with conscience, who becomes renegade and goes through various adventures. Anastasius was attributed to Lord Byron and only credited to Sir Thomas Hope on his avowing it in Blackwood’s Magazine. He also wrote the book “Household Furniture and Interior Decoration” in 1807, and thus coined the phrase “Interior Decoration”. He died on 03/02/1831. The Victoria & Albert Museum, London, and the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, contain some of his collections.

Henry Hope, a collector of fine art and gems acquired the large blue diamond that carries his family’s name. The Hope Diamond, at 45.52 carats, is the world’s largest deep blue diamond, and is more than a billion years old. It is today in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.

Benjamin Disraeli, British Prime Minister in 1868 and 1874-80, wrote part of ‘Coningsby’, a political novel, at The Deepdene. His imperialist policies brought India directly under the crown and he was personally responsible for purchasing control of the Suez Canal. The central Conservative Party organisation is his creation.

Media object
The Deepdene in 1917
The Deepdene in 1917
Note: Sir William Burrell bought The Deepdene in 1791 and permitted by an Act of Parliament, Sir Charles Burrell, William’s eldest son, sold the house to Sir Thomas Hope in 1807. The house passed to his son, Henry, and on his wife’s death passed to Lord Francis Hope-Pelham-Clinton, later the 8th Duke of Newcastle. He went bankrupt, and subsequently Lord William Beresford (3rd son of the Marquess of Waterford) leased the house. Almeric Paget leased the house from 1911 to 1914. The house and 50 acres were sold in 1920, and a further 2200 acres were soldin 1921. It was a hotel during the interwar years and sold to the Southern Railway Company in 1939, which later became part of British Rail. British Rail occupied the house until it was sold in 1967 to Federated Homes Ltd. It was demolished in1969.

Sir William Burrell bought The Deepdene in 1791 and permitted by an Act of Parliament, Sir Charles Burrell, William’s eldest son, sold the house to Sir Thomas Hope in 1807. The house passed to his son, Henry, and on his wife’s death passed to Lord Francis Hope-Pelham-Clinton, later the 8th Duke of Newcastle. He went bankrupt, and subsequently Lord William Beresford (3rd son of the Marquess of Waterford) leased the house. Almeric Paget leased the house from 1911 to 1914. The house and 50 acres were sold in 1920, and a further 2200 acres were soldin 1921. It was a hotel during the interwar years and sold to the Southern Railway Company in 1939, which later became part of British Rail. British Rail occupied the house until it was sold in 1967 to Federated Homes Ltd. It was demolished in1969.

Sir Thomas Hope, of Scottish Descent but born in the Netherlands in 1769, came from a rich banking family. He was an author and furniture designer. Anastasius, written in 1819, tells the story of a Greek hero, of considerable ability and courage,absolutely untroubled with conscience, who becomes renegade and goes through various adventures. Anastasius was attributed to Lord Byron and only credited to Sir Thomas Hope on his avowing it in Blackwood’s Magazine. He also wrote the book “Household Furniture and Interior Decoration” in 1807, and thus coined the phrase “Interior Decoration”. He died on 03/02/1831. The Victoria & Albert Museum, London, and the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, contain some of his collections.

Henry Hope, a collector of fine art and gems acquired the large blue diamond that carries his family’s name. The Hope Diamond, at 45.52 carats, is the world’s largest deep blue diamond, and is more than a billion years old. It is today in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.

Benjamin Disraeli, British Prime Minister in 1868 and 1874-80, wrote part of ‘Coningsby’, a political novel, at The Deepdene. His imperialist policies brought India directly under the crown and he was personally responsible for purchasing control of the Suez Canal. The central Conservative Party organisation is his creation.