Thinking her sons unhealthy, she began to purchase parcels of land around Aylesbury in prime hunting country, where they could take outdoor exercise.

By the middle of the 19th century, two of her four sons had large estates and mansions in the Vale of Aylesbury: Anthony Nathan de Rothschild at Aston Clinton; and Mayer at Mentmore.

This was given to his nephew Leopold de Rothschild who enlarged the existing Ascott House to the Neo-Tudor structure seen today.

Mayer Rothschild was a keen horseback rider and hunter, in spite of his weight of 101 kilograms (223 lb) (just over 15 stones), and was a fan of thoroughbred horse racing.

Mayer de Rothschild and his wife Juliana (née Cohen) had one child, a daughter, Hannah, later Countess of Rosebery.