The building comes as a wonderful surprise. Leaving the public road which runs from Stoke Bruerne north east, following the sign posts, you wend your way down a long drive which eventually comes to an end at the tree covered back of the property. What you come to see are the pavilions which flank the house designed for Sir Francis Crane founder of the Mortlake tapestry works in London who bought the estate in 1629. It was largely completed presumably in 1635 when he entertained Charles l here. Stoke is the earliest house in England to be based on the designs of Palladio’s villas with it’s central block ( destroyed by fire in 1886 ) and connecting a pair of pavilions. These are particularly handsome with their giant ironstone pilasters set against pale limestone walls. The house was saved by ...Robin Chancellor who acquired the property in 1954 assisted by the architect Marshall Sisson. This is now the home of the Robin's nephew, the late journalist Alexander Chancellor. He successfully replanted the park that lies to the west.