Story

About Us

Somerley House

History & Heart Combined

We’ve lived at Somerley since 2011 but the Estate has been in our family for six generations. We’re extremely proud to be its current custodians and to open it up to you for your special celebration. Somerley House was designed by renowned English architect Samuel Wyatt in the late 1700s. Its subsequent owners have added to it in their own way – most notably with the addition of the 90ft Picture Gallery in 1850, which is one of our favourite spaces in the House and looks utterly magical when lit by dozens of flickering candles and cascades of twinkling fairy lights. Many of our ancestors were avid collectors, and several of their most prized pieces (paintings by Gainsborough, Rubens and Canaletto, among others; Chippendale furniture and other objets d’art including pieces from the Palace of Versailles) can be seen throughout the House. Since we inherited the Estate, we’ve undertaken an extensive programme of restoration and rejuvenation (hard but incredibly rewarding work), to bring this glorious building into the 21st century as sensitively as possible.

Stately

not stuffy

We are extremely proud to be the present custodians of this hidden gem on the Hampshire/Dorset border.  Somerley has been in our family for seven generations and we never take for granted how lucky we are to live and raise our family in this beautiful place.

This is a House built for making memories in.  It’s glorious and grand, but it’s our family home so there’s real heart here.  We like to think of it as stately, not stuffy, and it’s at its best when its rooms and galleries are filled with life and laughter.  So, whether you’re dreaming of a candlelit dinner among the portraits in our Picture Gallery, a cosy ceremony by the fire in the Drawing Room, or a sprawling summer celebration in our grounds and gardens, Somerley is the perfect place to make your own.  Our expert events team will help you to create a wedding that befits your imagination.

We’re delighted to share our home with you and your loved ones for your most special of days, as you make Somerley House part of your personal histories.

The Earl and Countess of Normanton