Archibald, 13th Duke of Somerset

We were digging a new flower bed next to the house when we found a structure under the ground. I looked at the original plans and they say "vault". Unfortunately the "vaults" are more likely to be something to do with the drainage than anything more exciting.

The plans of the house date from 1888 and were drawn up "for His Grace the Duke of Somerset". The Duke in question was Archibald St Maur, 13th Duke of Somerset. He was in his late 70s and had inherited the Dukedom only three years earlier on the death of his older brother Edward. Edward had married the lovely granddaughter of the famous playwright Sheridan, known as Georgy, and had, according to popular gossip, lived an exciting life but let the estate go to rack and ruin.

It certainly seems to be true that our farm had gone to rack and ruin. The previous farmhouse was said to be in a sorry state when it finally burned down a few years earlier.

The title of Duke seems to have brought no joy to Archibald, only the burden of putting things to rights, including rebuilding our farm. He died three years later still embittered towards his brother.