31 Facts About Althorp

Althorp is a Grade I listed stately home and estate in the civil parish of Althorp, in West Northamptonshire, England of about 13,000 acres.

Althorp is mentioned as a small hamlet in the Domesday Book as "Olletorp", and by 1377 it had become a village with a population of more than fifty people.

Althorp became one of the prominent stately homes in England.

House at Althorp was a "classically beautiful" red brick Tudor building, but its appearance was radically altered, starting in 1788, when the architect Henry Holland was commissioned to make extensive changes.

In total, the grounds of Althorp estate contain 28 listed buildings and structures, including nine planting stones.

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Hamlet named Althorp existed here in medieval times, believed to have been situated on the southwest side of the park, east of West Lodge.

Only a boy at the time of William's death, his son John Spencer inherited Althorp and held it until his death in 1586, when he passed it to his son, John, who died in 1600.

Althorp was welcomed by an entertainment scripted by Ben Jonson in which the Fairy Queen Mab gave her a jewel.

Althorp was then occupied by his son Robert Spencer, 4th Earl of Sunderland, who died childless in 1729.

Althorp was renowned for his heavy spending on his political pursuits and campaigns, "indulging in the fiercely competitive and heinously expensive business of fighting elections to Parliament – which effectively meant bribing people to vote for his candidate rather than that of another magnate".

Althorp spent £120,000 in one campaign alone and spent heavily on his estates, building Spencer House in London.

Althorp frequently hosted parties attended by the political and cultural elite, and it became known as a place of indulgence and festivities.

Althorp was "buzzing with activity", and France's top chefs were brought to Althorp to cater for the family and their guests during the week.

Althorp served as Whig MP for Northampton from 1780 to 1782 and for Surrey from 1782 to 1783 before accepting the title of 2nd Earl Spencer.

Althorp was later Home Secretary from 1806 to 1807 under Lord Grenville in the Ministry of All the Talents.

Althorp was the instigator and first President of the Roxburghe Club, founded in 1812, President of the Royal Institution from 1813 to 1827, and Commissioner of the Public Records in 1831, among other literary pursuits.

Althorp became a major cultural hub of England during his time; at one Christmas, the actor David Garrick, the historian Edward Gibbon, the playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan and the painter Joshua Reynolds, among other artistic figures attended a party there together.

Althorp achieved this mainly by far less extravagant living, spending much of the year at Wiseton where the running costs were £1,200 compared with the £5,000 needed to run Althorp and pay the staff of 40 in the house.

Althorp served as a Liberal Party politician and was a close friend of British prime minister William Gladstone, who he served under in all four of his cabinets.

Unlike many country houses in Britain during the Second World War which were occupied by the military and converted into hospitals, training camps and barracks, Althorp Palace remained untouched, thanks to Albert who saw to it that they used the stables instead.

Estate was first opened to the public in 1953 by Albert, to mitigate against taxation, and Althorp had its own railway station called Althorp Park on the Northampton Loop Line until 1960.

Althorp made his own wine and attracted fellow connoisseurs from around the world to Althorp, although he did not sell much of it.

Althorp house is described as standing in a low situation, "approached by a handsome avenue, beautifully shaded with trees".

The Saloon was the first room at Althorp to have electricity installed, and it contains an imposing oak staircase, added in the 1660s.

Ceiling of the original library at Althorp collapsed in 1773, and at the same time a new floor was put down in the Picture Gallery.

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Garden Lobby of Althorp contains a number of pieces of porcelain from reputable European manufacturers, but several rare Oriental pieces.

Lady Margaret Douglas-Home, sister of Albert Spencer, lived at Althorp from 1910, and the gallery was a favourite of hers.

In total, Althorp estate contains 28 listed buildings and structures, of which nine are planting stones, dotted around the park.

Estate of Althorp covers an area of at least 13,000 acres, and not only includes the house grounds but areas of woodland, cottages, farms, and surrounding hamlets.

Althorp was a very modern woman within an established environment.

Althorp complained the following morning that during the night a figure dressed as a groom had entered his room holding candles and checking that they were snuffed out around the bed.