Althorp: The Story of an English House

The story of the great house and grounds of Althorp is the story of a family, a family whose driving passions include art and the enjoyment of books: the Spencers.

Acquiring the 300-acre Northamptonshire estate in 1508, Sir John Spencer built the first house, and for over 500 years twenty generations of the Spencer family have lived and died at Althorp.

In recent times it has taken on added significance as the burial place of the most loved princess of the twentieth century, Diana. In 1998 there was further major work with the adapting of the quite beautiful Stable Block — once home to 100 horses and forty grooms into a centre for visitors incorporating an exhibition celebrating the life of Diana.

This fascinating account, written by one who acted as a guide there at just twelve years old, ripples with both personal insights and an appreciation for the architecture, art and characters of Althorp, and is a perfect guide to one of England’s greatest houses.

Charles, Viscount Althorp, became the ninth Earl Spencer on the death of his father in 1992. Since then, he has undertaken extensive refurbishment of the house and supervised the changes made to accommodate the many thousands of people who wish to visit the home and grounds following the death of his sister. An acclaimed, bestselling historian of works regarding Althorp and his family’s history, he founded the Althorp Literary Festival in 2003. He was educated at Eton College and obtained his degree in Modern History at Magdalen College, Oxford. He is the author of five books, including the Sunday Times bestseller ‘Blenheim: The Battle for Europe’ (shortlisted for History Book of the Year, National Book Awards), 'Killers of the King: The Men Who Dared to Execute Charles I' and ‘The Spencer Family’.

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