Kentchurch was found to be ideal. Tucked in a deep valley, the house is physically very secluded and so can be isolated from the 21st century.

Early history and legend
The history of Kentchurch is inextricably linked with that of the Scudamore family. The Scudamores (whose name derives from the French for Shield of Love) have lived in the house for the past seven centuries and on the estate for nearly 1000 years. Although little is known of the early history of the family, it is believed that they were part of William the Conqueror's invasion force and were awarded the land by William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 in gratitude for their service to the victorious King.

From excavations, it is evident that there was an original house on the estate that was probably demolished around the 14th Century. The location of the new house was chosen deep within the folds one of the local valleys, protecting it from being over-run and raised to the ground in a surprise attack (the area is on the border of a then-rebellious Wales). Its position makes the house invisible from the road or any other property, and a perfect location for the Regency House Party.

It is likely that the first Scudamore to make his home at the present site of Kentchurch was Sir John. Sir John married Alice Glyndwr, the daughter of the leading renegade resistance leader Owain Glyndwr. For 15 years a civil war had raged in the area, as Glyndwr and his supporters tried to consolidate their early successes and unite a free Wales. However by 1407 Glyndwr's army had suffered a run of defeats and by 1415 the rebellion was over. Folklore at Kentchurch has it that Glyndwr escaped the vengeful English by hiding out at Kentchurch, and indeed, the room that Captain Glover slept in his reputed to be where Owain Glyndwr died.

Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries
The late eighteenth century was a golden period for England's country estates and landed gentry. The vast estate at Kentchurch was no exception and by 1773 it was decided that Kentchurch needed to be modernised and improved according to the status of its current owner, Colonel John Scudamore, MP for Hereford.

Anthony Keck was commissioned to draw up plans for a modernised scheme for the interior of the house and once this had been completed, it was decided that the exterior of the house should under-go a similar make-over. This time however John Nash was asked for a proposal. Nash was later to become the Regency's most fashionable architect and was responsible for much work at Buckingham Palace, Brighton Pavilion, Windsor Castle and Charlton House, as well as Regents Park and Regent Street. The year was 1796 and Nash had designed an ambitious scheme to consolidate Kentchurch from an amalgamation of smaller buildings and connecting rooms into a spacious and stylish country residence. With work well underway, tragedy struck when the Colonel suddenly died. Nash was unable to complete most of his plans for the house, and it was not until nearly 20 years later that building works resumed. Using Nash's plans, Mr. Tudor (The Agent of the Kentchurch estate) took on the re-design under the instruction of the Colonel's grandson John Lucy Scudamore.

The Regency House Party
To be used as the setting for Regency House Party, a significant amount of work needed to be done. Although there were no structural alterations, the interior decorative scheme had to be completely redesigned by the artistic director Alan Spalding and his team. It took a dedicated team of builders, craftsmen, scenic painters and decorators, three months to restore Kentchurch to its regency glory. Not only were curtains, carpets, furniture and decoration replaced but all the modern conveniences of life in the 21st century had to go too. It was only once the central-heating, plug sockets, electric lights and plumbing were removed, that the Regency House Party could at last begin.

To find out more about Kentchurch Court, visit the website: Kentchurch Court