This tower is constructed of clunch, a building material peculiar to Buckinghamshire, which is a combination of chalk and mud.

The chief feature of the grounds is 'The Glade', an avenue through the woods bordered by rhododendrons and ancient oaks.

It is the north and west ranges of the house that have never received the architectural acclaim they deserve, remodelled circa 1750 to a design by the architect Thomas Iremonger, with battlements and ogee topped windows, they are a form of gothic known as Strawberry Hill.

This style predates the so-called invention of Strawberry Hill Gothic at Horace Walpole's house by nearly twenty years.

The interior of the house was also remodelled at this time, when a suite of magnificent state rooms were created with remarkable rococo ceilings, and superb marble fireplaces.

The spot where he refused to pay is marked by a monument in the grand avenue at Hampden House, although the exact location of the actual site is in dispute.

Like many old and aristocratic families, the Hampdens, for generations closely associated with the Whig party, eventually found themselves with financial problems.

These were exacerbated by Richard Hampden who, while Treasurer of the Navy, invested heavily personally, and with government funds, in the South Sea Bubble; the resultant crash in 1720 was devastating for the family fortune.

The magnificent state rooms were restored to their former glory, while the unseen upper floors and service areas were converted to internally modern offices.