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Described as "one of the most majestic English houses of the eighteenth century", Stowe has inspired generations of artists and writers. Originally home to the Dukes of Buckingham and Chandos, Stowe House was constructed in the 1680s, and was extensively remodelled throughout the eighteenth century. Sir John Vanbrugh, William Kent and Sir John Soane were among the many famed eighteenth-century architects to have worked at Stowe, making the house and gardens one of the best preserved neo-classical examples in the country. However, by 1848 the family had run into huge debts, and the house and its contents were put up for sale. The foundation of Stowe School in 1923 and the Stowe House Preservation Trust in 1997 have secured the future of Stowe House. The Preservation Trust is currently overseeing a vast interior restoration project, with two key interiors already completed: the Marble Saloon and the Large Library. Stowe House is open to the public throughout the year.

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