Winfield House

Winfield House is a mansion set in 12 acres (49,000 m²) of grounds in Regent's Park, London, the largest private garden in central London after that of Buckingham Palace.

Related Topics:
Regent's Park - London - Buckingham Palace

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The first house on the site was Hertford Villa, later known as St Dunstan's. This was the largest of the eight villas originally built in Regent's Park as part of John Nash's development scheme. Occupants of the villa included the Marquesses of Hertford, and newspaper proprietor Lord Rothermere. The villa was damaged by fire in the 1930s and was subsequently purchased by the celebrated American heiress Barbara Hutton, who demolished it and replaced it with the existing neo Georgian mansion. The house's name derives from Barbara Hutton's grandfather Frank Winfield Woolworth. Hutton's son Lance Reventlow was born in Winfield House.

Related Topics:
John Nash - Marquesses of Hertford - Lord Rothermere - Barbara Hutton - Neo Georgian - Frank Winfield Woolworth - Lance Reventlow

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In World War II Winfield House was used by a Royal Air Force barrage balloon unit. It was visited during the war by Cary Grant, who was Barbara Hutton's husband at the time. After the war Hutton sold the house to the American government for one dollar, and it has been the official residence of the American Ambassadors to the United Kingdom since 1955. Among the ambassadors in residence has been Walter Annenberg, and the house has been visited by Queen Elizabeth II, U.S. presidents and many distinguished guests.

Related Topics:
World War II - Royal Air Force - Barrage balloon - Cary Grant - Walter Annenberg - Queen Elizabeth II

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