Cliveden House Hotel in Berkshire has a history like no other, the Profumo Affair was and still is an icon of the 60’s. Cliveden House is also one of the world’s finest luxury hotels, set in the heart of the Berkshire countryside and surrounded by 376 acres of magnificent formal gardens and parkland.
The Profumo affair is undoubtedly what the hotel will be associated with ad infinitum but the first house was built in 1666 by the 2nd Duke of Buckingham. A notorious rake and schemer, he created Cliveden as a hunting lodge where he could entertain his friends and most importantly his mistresses.
The Second Duke built Cliveden to be a hunting lodge and a place where he could entertain his friends, including favourite female company. This is when Cliveden had its earliest brush with notoriety, as unfortunately for the Duchess of Buckingham it was where the Duke brought his mistress, the Countess of Shrewsbury, to conduct their affair.
It was said of Buckingham that “a young lady could not resist his charms…all his trouble in wooing was, he came, saw and conquered”. In light of his passionate nature, it is not a surprise to learn that the Duke ended up challenging his mistress’ husband to a duel for her honour, which was fought on 21st January 1668. Lady Shrewsbury is reputed to have shown no emotion as her husband received what proved to be a fatal wound. A cross-sword emblem set into Cliveden’s East Lawn commemorates this bloody encounter to this day.
Buckingham’s relationship with the Countess continued, but he never fully recovered from the fall from social grace that it provoked. He eventually left Cliveden for a quieter life away from the royal court, following the death of King Charles II in 1685. He himself died aged 59 in 1687, allegedly having caught a cold while pursuing his second great love after women, fox-hunting. So ended the first famous (and infamous) chapter in Cliveden’s history.
Since then it has twice been destroyed by fire, only to emerge, phoenix-like, more stunning than before. The house has played host to virtually every British Monarch since George I and has been home to three Dukes, an Earl and Frederick Prince of Wales.
Queen Victoria, a frequent guest, was not amused in 1893 when the house was bought by William Waldorf Astor, America’s richest citizen. When he gave it to his son and daughter-in-law in 1906 Cliveden became the hub of a hectic social whirl where guests included everyone from Charlie Chaplin to Winston Churchill, and President Roosevelt to George Bernard Shaw.
Harold Macmillan, another frequent guest, when told that the house was eventually to become a hotel, remarked “My dear boy, it always has been.” The tradition of impeccable hospitality and extravagant entertainment continues to make any stay at Cliveden the experience of a lifetime.
The latest chapter in Cliveden’s history is that as a part of Von Essen Hotels Limited, it is now up for sale by administrators working on behalf of the firm which leases it.
Cliveden House is under lease from the National Trust until 2090 and its 375-acre grounds attract thousands of visitors each year.
The prestigious mansion has remained open since Von Essen was forced into administration by Lloyds Banking Group and Barclays.
For further information on the sale of Cliveden and the Von Essen portfolio contact Christie & Co
David Creamore, Director of Hotels, Christie + Co on 020 7227 0783 or david.creamore@christie.com