Running a stately home is no mean feat but is essential if theUK is to maintain its identity, says the Duke of Somerset

Bradley House lies in the western scarp of the South Wiltshire Downs on the edge of the ancient hunting forest of Selwood. It was built by my forbear, Sir Edward Seymour, when he was Speaker in the House of Commons. He was instrumental in bringing the Protestant William of Orange to the throne of England in place of the Catholic James II, and we have preserved in Bradley House the ornate saddle of Italian velvet with gold and silver embroidery that he used to welcome the future king on his landing at Brixham in 1688.

Previously the family had lived at Berry Pomeroy in Devon, in the castle that came to the first duke with the estates given by Henry VIII. Sir Edward dismantled and sold the fabric of the castle because he could not afford to carry on the building works started in the 16th century and also because it was too arduous to ride the 200 miles to Westminster.

Maiden Bradley is a mere 100 miles away, or perhaps three days journey in those days. The family commissioned the architect Hulbert to build a large house there. In 1822, again feeling the costs of maintenance and with other properties elsewhere, the 12th duke pulled down a large part, leaving a handsome building of Bath stone.

The gardens were extensively re-modelled in 1902, along with the panelled dining room, with its Flemish tapestries and ornate ceiling.
Today, the house is listed Grade II and consists of 11 bedrooms with their own bathrooms, and has a just about adequate heating system. It is an everyday struggle to stop the seepage of rain through the lead parts of the roof and the subsequent damp stains in the “smart” bedrooms below.

My maintenance foreman suggests covering the flat leads with fibreglass as a practical and economical solution in an invisible part of the building, but I doubt whether English Heritage would approve. We also have a management agreement with the Capital Taxes Office, administered by the Countryside Agency and English Heritage, and visitors are welcomed, by appointment, to view the house.

The annual cost of running the house runs to some tens of thousands of pounds, including a rolling programme of restoration, so some 10 years ago I decided to increase the modest amount of corporate hospitality that was undertaken. The aim is to provide a high quality bespoke product for a select clientele. Particularly successful are small directors’ meetings, with the possibility of staying overnight, including entertainment, from muddy and energetic to gentle and relaxed; house parties in the summer and shooting parties in the winter. I also organise and lead walking parties in the locality. All this is accompanied by really good food (because I like it too) and an emphasis on exclusivity, privacy and flexibility.

Considerable effort has been put into improving the fabric and comfort of the house, which inevitably suffers from heavy use. I find that using the best quality always pays dividends but it is not too long before a room requires maintenance and repair again to keep up the standard.

I have found the Countryside Agency consistently to be helpful, constructive and swift; in contrast, English Heritage tends to be slow and has a more rigid agenda. But hopefully the reorganisation of these agencies will benefit all parties. I am full of admiration for the Historic Houses Association which fights to ameliorate the more damaging tax proposals and although parts of the Labour government surely understands the difficulties of historic properties, some of the VAT details and the ever tightening income tax distinctions between repairs and capital improvements make balancing the books increasingly difficult.

Even with modern transport, the house is only just near enough to attract the London market but I remain hopeful that our quality of experience will attract sufficient interest to pay the bills and maintain the house for future generations to enjoy.

More information on Bradley House is available at www.duchyofsomerset.co.uk

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