Elizabeth Craven and Benham Place, Newbury, Berkshire
Benham House, sometimes called Benham Place or Benham Park, at Speen near Newbury in Berkshire, is a Georgian country mansion that was built in 1774-6 for William, 6th Baron Craven, husband of Elizabeth Craven the author. The Cravens owned several estates in Berkshire and their name has been given to many streets - and pubs - in the Newbury area. William, 6th Baron Craven painted by James Northcote Elizabeth was deeply attached to Benham House because it was built to her taste and wishes. The Craven family had owned the estate at Benham, originally called Benham Valence, since 1620, when the first Lord Craven bought it from Sir Francis Castillion. His father, Giovannie-Battista Castiglione, received the manor of Benham Valence as a gift from Queen Elizabeth I, to whom he had been tutor in the Italian language. The Tudor house burnt down in 1774 and was replaced with one in the...