Dukes of Buckingham and Chandos: Avington, Hampshire

Avington is a few miles from Winchester and was the home of Brydges family. It was the favourite home of Anna Eliza, the first Duchess of Buckingham and Chandos.

In 1665, Avington was owned by George Rodney Brydges, a friend of Charles II and Groom of the Bedchamber. He married the wealthy Countess of Shrewsbury and used his increasing wealth to develop Avington. The house was enlarged between 1670 and 1680 with two wings, and a new brickwork facade for the older parts of the building. The effect was to create a aesthetic and modest stately house, which is said to have housed Nell Gwynne while Charles was Winchester.

On the death of George Brydges's son in 1751 Avington Park passed to his cousin James Brydges, Marquess of Carnarvon, who became the third Duke of Chandos in 1771. A wealthy man, James preferred to live at Avington. He added the Library and main staircase, and redecorated and gilded the Drawing Room and Ballroom. He also placed three statues over the Portico. Plans to build a new wing on the site of the Orangery did not materialise.

At the death of James Brydges, Avington passed to his wife and on her death to Anna Eliza, later the first Duchess of Buckingham and Chandos.

Avington drawn by John Hewetson (early nineteenth century?)

This was always her favourite home and she did not take to Stowe. Writing to Percy Grace from Avington in 1812, Anna Eliza sighed: "All the Leighs have been here till yesterday when they returned to Adlestrop where I hope (please God) to join them & spend some days there before I settle at Stowe which is indeed a melancholy prospect…" Her views of Avington were very different and a year later, she remonstrates with Grace at a suggestion that she might move to Stowe: "Before I close my letter I must scold you for expressing a doubt of my continuing to live at Avington. As long as it please God to grant my life that place will be most dear to me." Living at Stowe in February 1832, she pines for her home "I am ashamed to confess how often I have wished myself at dear Avington enjoying my long Rambles."

Anna Eliza took a close interest in the welfare of the people of Avington village, which lies close to the house, and nearby parishes. She gave a Christmas dinner for villagers but could rarely attend due to commitments at Stowe:

I look forward with great pleasure to Christmas Day as we give a Dinner to the poor of three parishes which will amount to more than 400 and I have never been able to attend if but once since I married. (Letter to Percy Grace, 23 December 1810; HEH STG Box 4 (5))

The Duchess of Buckingham, whose extensive charities are constantly experienced by the poor in the neighbourhood of Avington Park, distributed on Christmas Eve upward of 800 poor persons of the parishes of Avington, Easton and Martyr Worthy a plentiful supply of beef, strong beer and articles of clothing. (Hampshire Chronicle, 29 December 1834)

The parishioners seem to have had the same affection for the Duchess:

Two hundred honest souls greeted my arrival [at Avington] and had waited long for me. In these times it is cheering. (Letter to Percy Grace, 30 November 1831; HEH STG Box 4 (24)).

In 1830, the Swing Riots were sweeping the country. The Duke was in London but local people rallied around Anna Eliza:

We have fearful Mobs all around us but all belonging to me have acted beautifully & like real Englishmen. The pleasure this has afforded me is far beyond description & if any thing could have increased my love for this place all that has occurred during the last Week’s Civil War would have done it. I have received so many proofs of real friendship from neighbours I knew but little of, that I have indeed been gratified & had arranged my Garrison to resist all attacks before the Duke’s arrival from Town which was delayed... Capt Willcox came most kindly from Southampton but I do not believe an attack on this House was ever thought of. (Letter to Percy Grace, 29 November 1830; HEH STG Box 4 (23))

On arrival, the Duke fortified the house with six guns from his yacht to deter rioters from Winchester who threatened to break the threshing machines on Avington estate.

There no significant improvements to the house and park at Avington during Anna Eliza's time. She died at Stowe but is buried in Avington church.

With the collapse of the families finances, Avington was sold by the second Duke for £140,000 in 1848. The purchaser was Sir John Shelley, younger brother of the poet and his family retained it until 1952. After the death of Sir Percy Bysshe Shelley in 1952, the house and stables were sold. In 1954, the estate office was wound up and the village, park and farms sold following the death of Sir John Shelley, Sir Percy's brother. The house was bought by Lieutenant. Colonel and Mrs John Hickson, whose family continue to live there.

	The west front and church
	This fountain on the south lawn is said to have been moved from Canon House in Middlesex, home of the first Duke of Chandos.

Sources

Beckett; Avington Park: 8th edition (undated guide to House).