Shrubland Park

Built circa 1770, for the Rev. John Bacon. In 1796, it was purchased by Sir William Fowle Middleton (1748-1829), 1st Bt., the elder brother of Henry Middleton (1717-1784), the 2nd President of the Continental Congress who lived at Middleton Place in South Carolina, which is also known for its spectacular descending terraces. Shrubland was extensively remodelled by the 2nd Baronet in the 1830s and again between 1849 and 1855. Shrubland remained the property of the descendants of the Middleton family until 2006, during which time it had served as a convalescent home for officers during World War One, a Brigade Headquarters during World War Two, and a health clinic. It featured in the James Bond movie, Never Say Never Again (1983). In 2014, it briefly opened as a luxury hotel but by 2015 it was on the market again for £6.5 million and remains empty.