The house was fitted with the latest technology such as gas lighting, central heating, fireproof construction and iron roofs.

[1] Extensive formal terrace gardens were created around the house and 25 acres (100,000 m2) of ornamental woodlands were planted in the 19th century.

[3] Robert was born in 1808 to George Peter Holford and his wife Anne Daniell, daughter of Rev.

[4] George inherited a mansion at Westonbirt from his father, Peter Holford; it was the original manor erected in the reign of Elizabeth I or the early part of the time of James I.

[7][8] In the same year the arboretum on the Westonbirt Estate was commenced and Robert played a significant role in this project.

To accommodate this collection he built Dorchester House in Park Lane, London between 1851 and 1853 where he employed Lewis Vulliamy as the architect.

This said that "Mr Holford's aim has been to create variety without confusion, informality and picturesqueness without losing sight of that polish in the vicinity of the mansion which must always be regarded as in accordance with correct taste.

He did not have his father's interest in art and books but he did have a passion for gardens and orchids so he devoted much of his time to his property at Westonbirt.

The arrangement of the many rare and exotic trees there and the skilful use of evergreen species as background and to provide the shelter so needful in a cold district like the Cotswolds, have rarely been equalled; there is no crowding of the trees; each is able to show its true form and all have been well cared for.

On few estates has the autumnal colouring of deciduous tress been so cleverly used by harmony and contrast, as, for instance, in the planting of Norway maples and glaucous Atlantic cedars.

[15]Country Life magazine wrote extensive articles about Westonbirt Gardens and Arboretum in 1905[16] and again in 1907[17] when George was the owner of the estate.

In 1912 he married the recently widowed Susannah Menzies, the eldest child of Arthur and Mary Wilson.

[21] However, Susannah was well provided for as George left her his personal goods such as jewellery and furniture and a large annuity of £10,000 per annum.