Park life

AFTER the successful reconstruction of Trent Park, Francis Bevan sold the estate in 1908 to Sir Edward Sassoon, the heir to a merchant bank, MP and friend of Edward VII.

The Sassoons, a Jewish family that flourished in Baghdad, are said to have acquired their wealth as traders in opium among other commodities.

The family's power and influence diminished during the 18th century and they were compelled to flee to Persia and then Bombay.

To aid their trading interests, the Sassoons established a counting house and wharfages which allowed direct dealing with the fleets of dhows carrying exotic commodities across the Indian Ocean

Under British colonial rule in India, David Sassoon, Sir Edward's grandfather, expanded the family's business interests into China. It was the near hysterical demand for Indian cotton, in conjunction with the Sassoon family's fortunate position controlling much of the trading, that propelled the Sassoons to unimaginable wealth and power.

By the turn of the 20th century, the Sassoon family had become assimilated into the ranks of British high society. It was as part of this process of playing the country gentleman that Sir Edward purchased Trent Park.

Unfortunately, he did not have much time to oversee any further development of the estate, dying of cancer at 56.

The estate and a substantial portion of the family fortune passed into the hands of Sir Philip Sassoon, Edward's son and cousin of the famous poet Siegfried.

Sir Edward had hoped Philip would secure the family's commercial interests "so that its reputation would not be tarnished by the neglect or mismanagement of outsiders".

Alas, this wish was to be unfulfilled. Sir Philip's ambition, unlike his forefathers' commercial zeal, were social and political. Following in his father's footsteps, Sir Philip was duly elected as Member of Parliament for Hythe.

Not renowned as a parliamentary orator, he gained notoriety as a political operator. As parliamentary private secretary to Prime Minister Lloyd George, he orchestrated much of the behind-the-scenes scheming that Lloyd George had no time for.

It was Sir Philip's role as a host that made him invaluable stage-managing, for instance, a 1920 meeting to discuss the question of reparations following World War I.

Judging that his political career would be enhanced by his reputation as an extravagant host, Sir Philip decided to renovate Trent Park.

Willing to demolish large sections, but unprepared to significantly alter old Bevan House, the revamp continued. The wonderful Trent Park estate is a testimony, not only to the industrious Sassoon family's wealth but also to the political vanity of those who entertain hopes of high office.

To find out more about the estate consult Trent Park: A History by Patrick Campbell.

15:19 Thursday 12th December 2002

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