Ickworth House

Found in Horringer, Suffolk, Ickworth House (including its famous Rotunda completed in 1841) had belonged to the Hervey family since the 15th century. The street I live in in Ipswich is named after them. They also went by the peerage name of Bristol, granted in 1826, so hereditary title holders were known by names such as Earl or Marquess of Bristol. The final family stake was sold by the 7th Marquess of Bristol to the National Trust in 1998. Boy had he blown it. John August Hervey (1954-1999) was described by The Spectator thus: 'born with an inheritance which included millions of money, thousands of acres, and oodles of style at Ickworth, the family seat, this flamboyant homosexual, charming but empty of soul, allowed himself to sink into a brain-mincing addiction to heroin and cocaine. Before the end he could not pass two hours without a snort, was frequently in prison, and was reduced to penury.' By the time he was 21 he had inherited 5 million pounds, went on to greater fortune, but blew the lot. He was eventually forced to sell out to the National Trust as they were trying to evict him for bad behaviour, and he died of AIDS aged 44.
John's father Victor, the 6th Marquess of Bristol, who despised John, was jailed for three years in 1939 for London jewellery thefts. He also sold arms to the Spanish dictator Franco, amassing a fortune both earned and inherited, running a number of companies. Two daughters by his third wife were the socialites/models Lady Victoria Hervey and Lady Isabella Hervey.
Damn fine grounds and a rather lovely long walk around the grounds that can take hours:
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ickworth/things-to-see-and-do/activities/page-2/

Meanwhile, here's a link to the reaction of the 8th Marquess of Bristol to the fact that his 'rightful' home was sold:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/4265218/Id-also-like-to-be-lording-it-over-Ickworth-House.html