Penn House

Built circa 1760, for Assheton Curzon (1730-1820), M.P., 1st Viscount Curzon, who knocked down the existing Tudor mansion to build this comparatvely modest red brick manor house. His descendants, the Earls Howe, were prominent members of the Royal Household and frequently entertained Royalty here, which in 1880 necessitated adding wings and enlarging the facade. The beautiful second wife of the 4th Earl, the American Florence Davis, died here in 1925. In the 1930s the 5th Earl Howe built the mile-long drive to the house to indulge his passion for motor car racing. It remains a private home to the Earls Howe, but was used for the film Nanny McPhee and is available to hire.