Victory at Hastings

1066

After the victory at Hastings in 1066, William Fitz-Ansculf was given use of the estate by William I. In the Doomsday Book of 1086, he is listed as holding the Manor as tenant in capite (direct from the crown).

“de Stoke”

1120

The descendants of the Ansculfs became the owners of the estate taking the name “de Stoke”. Then in 1291 Amicia de Stoke, the last de Stoke, married Sir Robert Poges and the estate passed into the Poges family. This created the name Stoke Poges.

1506

The estate was inherited by George, Lord Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon. Then in 1543 the estate passes to his son Francis, who rebuilt the Manor House in 1555, which can still be seen today on the upper side of the lake.

In 1560 Henry, Third Earl of Huntingdon was the last of the Hastings to own Stoke Park. The estate was given to the crown in 1581 to pay the family’s taxes.

“an Englishman’s home is his castle.”

1603

The Manor House belonged to Queen Elizabeth I (1581 – 1603) and then was owned by Sir Edward Coke (1603 – 1644). It is said that the Queen visited The Manor House and Sir Edward bestowed jewels to the value of twelve hundred pounds upon her.

Sir Edward Coke was the Lord Chief Justice of England and famous jurist who prosecuted Sir Walter Raleigh, proving that he had an ‘English face but a Spanish heart.’

Under King James I, Sir Edward prosecuted Guy Fawkes and the Gun Powder plotters and coined the phrase, “an Englishman’s home is his castle.”

“He has got possession of another man’s house already, and he shall never enter mine”

1644

The estate then passed to Sir John Villiers (1644 – 1656) and it was at The Manor House, where King Charles I was imprisoned on his way to his trial in London. In fact it is said that The Manor House has welcomed a Queen, imprisoned a King, and refused entry to King William III – the owner at the time, Sir Robert Gayer (1656 – 1724) was supporter of the then exiled Stuarts. Sir Robert is reputed to have said of King William: “he has got possession of another man’s house already, and he shall never enter mine”

1750

In 1750 Lady Cobham, who at this time owned Stoke Park, commissioned the famous Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown to design the landscapes. Much of Brown’s vision is still seen today and it was Brown who installed the beautiful lakes we have on the estate.

It was also at this time that the poet Thomas Gray wrote his famous ‘Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard’ here at Stoke Park. He is buried in St Giles’ Church which sits opposite the Mansion.

1760

In 1760 the Penn family purchased the estate. The Penn family were the founding fathers of Pennsylvania in the US and Thomas Penn, son of William Penn lived in the Manor House until his death in 1775.

His son John Penn then inherits the estate, however he does not return to Stoke Park until 1789. When John Penn returns to Stoke Park , two thirds of the Manor House were dilapidated, so with the money from the sale of lands in the US, Penn hires the architect Robert Naismith and then James Wyatt, architect to King George III, to design The Mansion.

1795

The Mansion was completed in 1795. John Penn’s brief to James Wyatt was that he wanted glorious views from The Mansion, something which is still enjoyed to this day. Wyatt’s design of Stoke Park was applauded worldwide, with the architects of the White House visiting Stoke Park and requesting to see his architectural drawings.

Humphry Repton, the renowned landscape architect who famously created beautiful drawings of his visions bound in red leather books for his clients, was commissioned to update the landscapes including building the beautiful bridge over the lakes.

1800

John Penn erected monuments which you see around the estate – in particular one of them to the poet Thomas Gray, and also a column in memory of Sir Edward Coke, which stands proudly in front of The Mansion. Designed by Charles Rossi, the column is made out of Portland Stone and the statue of Sir Edward Coke, who is looking towards the Law Courts of London, is made by Eleanor Coade cement and is in exquisite condition to this day.

MONARCH of the glen

1848

The Mansion enjoys beautiful views all around, and overlooked one of England’s oldest deer parks.

Sir Edwin Landseer, who visited Stoke Park many times when it was owned by Lord Taunton (1848 – 1863), painted many deer paintings. Sir Edwin painted the famous Monarch of the Glen.

1908

Stoke Park was a family home until 1908 when it was bought by Nick “Pa” Lane Jackson and he created Britain’s first Country Club!

Lane Jackson, who was also the founder of the Corinthian FC and London Football Association, commissioned Harry Colt to design Stoke Park’s 18 hole Championship Golf Course. Colt was an eminent golf architect and is considered to this day as one of the finest. The 7th tee at Stoke Park became the inspiration for the 16th at the US Masters in Augusta.

1909

On opening the Club received huge acclaim with Golf Illustrated, the world’s most prolific golf publication of the time quoting on May 16th 1909:

‘Whatever the future of the Stoke Park Club there cannot be the slightest doubt in the mind of anyone who was fortunate enough to be present at the opening of the club and course on Monday that a new record has been established in the way of golf clubs in this country. The promoters have said absolutely the last word in the way of ‘golf de luxe’ .

1928

The Mobbs family, including Sir Noel Mobbs, became the second owners of the Club and enjoyed 30 years of ownership before selling to Eton Rural District Council (then South Bucks District Council) in 1958.

“If there were no  palatial clubhouse and no beautiful gardens and grounds, the course itself would take a great deal of beating anywhere within thirty miles of London.”

Golf Illustrated – 1909

1964

Stoke Park has a wonderful movie history. One of the most famous of all the movies shot at Stoke Park was the 007 classic Goldfinger. Stoke Park plays the back drop to the iconic golf match between Sean Connery’s James Bond and Auric Goldfinger and who can ever forget Oddjob’s flying hat!

1988

In 1988 the Buckinghamshire based King family bought the estate with the long term vision to restore it to its former glory.

2002

Celebrating its 20th edition in 2024, we have hosted The Boodles – an English country garden party with world class tennis since 2002.

We have welcomed stars of the tennis world such as Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Andre Agassi.

2013

Stoke Park is the perfect place to enjoy life in a five star and friendly atmosphere providing a unique combination of the traditions of an exclusive club and the best of today’s sporting, leisure, entertaining and hotel facilities in one of the most convenient locations in Britain.

In 2013 Stoke Park were awarded the coveted 5 AA Red Stars (one of only 50 in the UK and Ireland).

“A stay at this grand country house hotel is about as good as it gets”

Marie Claire

2021

In April 2021, Stoke Park welcomed it’s fifth owners since 1908 – Reliance Industries Limited. Stoke Park have set upon a new chapter to:

Comprehensively upgrade the estate to deliver an unrivalled experience for guests and elevate Stoke Park to a world-class status.
Cherish our relationships with the local community and invest in local initiatives through our extensive community outreach programme to create a lasting legacy of genuine benefits and support the community outside our operating boundaries.
Celebrate the estate’s history by restoring and enhancing The Mansion, monuments and parkland for future generations to enjoy

2026

After 5 years of planning and renovation, Stoke Park is delighted to be fully open and welcoming guests back to our beautiful estate once again.

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A Thousand Years of Proud History