Fonthill is usually associated with the writer and collector, William Beckford, who built his Gothic fantasy house, Fonthill Abbey, at the end of the 18th century. But it is in fact only one of several important houses to be built on the Estate since the 16th century, all of them eventually consumed by fire or deliberately demolished.

James Morrison, great grandfather of the first Baron (John Morrison, Lord Margadale’s grandfather) became the greatest textile wholesaler in England, a prominent merchant banker and consequently had the second largest non-landed fortune in Britain after Nathan Rothschild. James bought the 1,200 acre Estate from the Farquhar heirs in 1830. It is now 9,000 acres. The present Fonthill House was built by John Morrison in 1973 on the foundations of a former house known as Little Ridge.

Entrance is £10 per person if booked in advance via Eventbrite, £12 on the gate and children under 12 can go free. Well behaved dogs are welcome on leads. Unfortunately, there is restricted wheelchair access.
Lord Margadale will be here to meet & greet you so do please find him to say hello. His Head Gardener, Jack Greenwood, will also be here for any questions you might have about the garden, the plants, the trees, or the vegetable garden. He will be accompanied by his Assistants (all of whom will be wearing orange high viz so easily identifiable).

If you are planning to book your tickets in advance, then please have these ready for inspection when you arrive at the gate, either as a screenshot or as a printed version.

We very much look forward to seeing you.