[1] Having acquired what was by then a large 16th-century manor house in 1672, Sir Stephen Fox, paymaster-general to King Charles II, commenced repairs on it in 1688.

The estate descended to Fox's eldest son Stephen Fox-Strangways, 1st Earl of Ilchester (1704–1776), who in the first half of the 18th century built the east wing of the house to the design of Nathaniel Ireson of Wincanton.

He also expanded the park and installed decorative features such as a lake, a waterfall, a temple, a Chinese seat and a bird house.

[5] The Redlynch estate suffered from neglect, but in the 1790s, he planned to convert the deer park to agricultural use, which was accomplished by his son Henry Fox-Strangways, 3rd Earl of Ilchester (1787–1858).

In 1901, the 5th Earl of Ilchester (1847–1905), still seated at Melbury, converted the service block into his principal residence on the estate, to the designs of Sir Edwin Lutyens.

[4] During World War II the United States Army 3rd Armored Division (spearhead) was based at Redlynch Park.

Glastonbury Tor was visible from the cottage, and Steinbeck also visited the nearby hillfort of Cadbury Castle, a supposed site of King Arthur's court of Camelot.