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Stocks House
Stocks House
Stocks House
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Stocks as it appeared at the time of Ward's residence (c.1903)

Key Information

Interior of Stocks at the time of Ward's residence (c.1914)

Stocks Manor House is a large Georgian mansion, built in 1773.[1] It is the largest property in the village of Aldbury, Hertfordshire. Stocks House and its manorial farm is an 182-acre (0.74 km2) estate surrounded by 10,000 acres (40 km2) of National Trust Ashridge Forest and the Chiltern Hills.

It takes its name from the old famous stocks of the medieval village of Aldbury just down the road.

Early history

[edit]

Stocks House was built in 1773 on the site of an earlier manor house known as La Stok which had existed since medieval times. Records from the 17th century show that the land was in the possession of Robert Duncombe, an ancestor of the Lords Feversham. In 1773, Arnold Duncombe built himself a new house.[2] The estate then passed successively to the Hayton, Whitbread and Gordon families.[3]

The house has had a number of literary associations. James Adam Gordon, who inherited the Stocks estate in 1832, was a friend of the Scottish author Sir Walter Scott, and it is reputed that the writer visited Gordon at Stocks House.[3] In 1891, the house was inherited by Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon, who served as British Foreign Minister and Ambassador to the United States, from his grandfather. Lord Falloden's career never allowed him to live there, and in 1892 he sold Stocks House [4] to best-selling British novelist Mary Augusta Ward and her husband Thomas Humphry Ward[3] who made Stocks their home until Mary's death in 1920.[5] Mary was the better known writer of the two, and published two best-selling novels Lady Rose's Daughter (1903) and The Marriage of William Ashe (1905), under the pen name Mrs Humphry Ward.[3]

While the Wards lived at Stocks, it became a bustling salon of leading intellectual luminaries. Upon Ward's death, Stocks was inherited by her son, a Member of Parliament, Arnold Ward.[6] who sold Stocks to the Blezard family, who later sold it to the bachelor Arthur Brown of the Luton quaker family of timber millers.[4]

In 1944, Stocks House became a residential school when a finishing school in England for upper-class girls, Brondesbury, moved to Stocks manor house from the manor estate in Surrey, where it had previously been located.[7] The school was then dubbed Brondesbury-at-Stocks. Katharina Forbes-Dunlop, a British author, became the last headmistress of the school, some years later.[8] In 1972 Forbes-Dunlop retired: she died at the age of 100.[8]

Playboy

[edit]
The swimming pool, pictured during renovations in 2007

In 1972, Stocks House achieved some notoriety when it was purchased by American Playboy executive Victor Lownes and English Playboy Playmate Marilyn Cole[1] for £115,000.[4] They renovated the house and fitted it out with a private disco, games room and swimming pool and installed a massive jacuzzi - reputedly the largest in the country. The mansion was used as a training camp for Playboy bunnies and Lownes was well known for leading a "lothario" lifestyle and hosting extravagant parties at Stocks. His most notorious party lasted a full 25 hours and featured a funfair in the grounds, and guests drank champagne and cavorted with models and beauty queens.[5][9]

The parties were attended by a number of celebrities of the day including Peter Cook, John Cleese, Christopher Reeve, Jack Nicholson, Keith Moon and Tony Curtis,[10] as well as Hugh Hefner, Kenny Lynch, Dai Llewellyn, Mick Jagger, Warren Beatty, Roman Polanski, Bryan Ferry and Ringo Starr. The ITN newsreader Reginald Bosanquet reportedly appeared at the events strutting around in a fez and calf-length boots. The parties attracted some comment from local residents; one local, complaining about a Hogmanay party held at Stocks, remarked: "At 3am on the first, the swimming pool was alive to the cries of naked ladies. And they were not singing Auld Lang Syne."[9]

Despite his reputation for rowdy celebrations, Lownes was popular with villagers for his support for local charities. He donated Christmas hampers to elderly locals and supported community initiatives such as the Tring Donkey Derby, bringing to the event Playboy Bunny Girls and celebrity guests such as Miss World Silvana Suárez and the racehorse Red Rum.[11]

Lownes also owned the house at 1 Connaught Square in London, which coincidentally was once the townhouse of Mary Augusta Ward, the former owner of Stocks, who died there.[4]

Phil Edmonds and conversion to hotel and spa

[edit]

Following Lownes' ownership, Stocks was acquired by English Cricket player Phil Edmonds in the 1980s[12] and then by Bridgend Group which converted it into a hotel and spa in the 1990s.[13]

Reversion to private house

[edit]

In 2004, Stocks was sold to Peter Harris, a retired horse trainer, entrepreneur and multimillionaire, for an undisclosed sum. A planning application to Dacorum to restore the historic Stocks Hotel back to a private home was made.[14] The extensive renovation work was undertaken by Holloway White Allom and completed in early 2008. The architect for the project was Hugh Petter, Director at ADAM Architecture. It is now a family home once again occupied by Harris's daughter Alison (former wife of deceased jockey Walter Swinburn) and her children.[1]

[edit]
The cover art of the 1997 Oasis album, Be Here Now

Stocks House and the village of Aldbury have been a popular choice for location shooting for music, film and television productions. In 1967 the house was used for an episode of the popular television serial The Avengers entitled "Murdersville".[15][16]

Some shots in the music video for the 1982 song "Our House" by Madness were filmed at Stocks House.[17]

The music video for the 1984 song "Up Around the Bend" by the Finnish rock band Hanoi Rocks was filmed at Stocks House.[18]

In 1997 the house and swimming pool also featured on the cover of the Oasis album, Be Here Now. For the photo shoot, a white 1972 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow was lowered into the swimming pool.[19][5]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stocks House.

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Stocks House

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Stocks House is a Grade II listed Georgian mansion situated in the village of , , , rebuilt in for Arnold Duncombe on the site of an earlier . Constructed of stuccoed brick with tiled roofs, it features classical architectural elements such as sash windows, a stringcourse, , and parapets, making it the largest and most prominent property in the village. The house underwent enlargements in the late , including rear wings and a service wing, followed by alterations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, such as additions of a and . From 1892 to 1922, it served as the residence of the novelist (known as Mrs. Humphrey Ward), who is buried in the nearby parish churchyard. After her tenure, the property functioned as a girls' school until 1972. In 1972, American Playboy Enterprises executive purchased Stocks House with English Marilyn , transforming it into a notorious site for training Playboy Bunnies and hosting lavish parties that epitomized the hedonistic lifestyle of the era. Lownes owned the mansion through the and , during which it became a symbol of London's swinging nightlife scene, though he was dismissed from Playboy in 1981 amid allegations of irregularities. By 1983, Lownes had converted it into a 17-bedroom , but these ventures struggled, leading to its sale in the late to cricketer , who established a on the grounds. In the 1990s, it was acquired by the Bridgend Group and operated as a and until closure in 2004. Following its commercial phase, Stocks House was purchased in 2004 and restored by 2008 through the removal of modern additions like internal walls and 20th-century wings, repairing original structures around its , and enhancing the grounds with a garage, stable court, swimming pool, and landscaped gardens to return it to its authentic Georgian character. It has been a private family home since then, preserving its historical significance while serving as an elegant residence in the .

Location and Description

Site and Estate

Stocks House is situated in the village of , , , approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) north of and adjacent to the border. The property lies at coordinates 51.81056°N 0.60556°W. The estate encompasses 182 acres (74 hectares) of land, forming the core of a historic manorial farm that includes remnants such as farm buildings dating back to medieval origins. It is bordered by the approximately 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) of Ashridge Estate, part of the National Trust's broader landscape, which provides a wooded and downland setting that enhances the site's rural character. The estate's position offers proximity to key landmarks, including the Tring Reservoirs and the Grand Union Canal, located about 3 miles (5 km) to the west near . This placement underscores its relative isolation within the Chilterns while maintaining accessibility, situated roughly 30 miles (48 km) northwest of via road or rail connections from nearby Tring station. Historically, the site traces back to the medieval manor known as "La Stok," referenced in records from the 13th century, with surviving estate elements like farm structures preserving this manorial legacy. Stocks House itself is designated as a Grade II listed building, reflecting its architectural and historical importance.

Architecture and Listing

Stocks House is a large Georgian mansion constructed in 1773, rebuilt on a new site for Arnold Duncombe using stuccoed brick with moulded architectural features. The building exemplifies classical Georgian symmetry, featuring a south facade of two storeys and attics with six sash windows and three dormers, a stringcourse, cornice, parapets, and a hipped plain tile roof with brick stacks. Sash windows with glazing bars dominate the elevations, particularly on the ground floor, while the central doorway is framed by a moulded architrave with a pulvinated frieze and a cornice hood supported on console brackets, contributing to its elegant proportions. Internally, the mansion preserves key period elements, including an early 20th-century free-standing , panelled doors, moulded cornices, and six-panel doors throughout. An 18th-century adorns the , highlighting the original craftsmanship. The house comprises approximately 20 main rooms, supplemented by outbuildings, making it the largest property in and the grandest in the parish. The mansion received Grade II listing on 21 May 1973 from (reference 1078055) due to its special architectural and historical interest, recognizing its well-preserved Georgian core despite later modifications. In the late , it was enlarged to double depth with two rear north wings, and a three-storey late 19th-century service wing was added to the west, likely for stabling purposes. Minor 20th-century single-storey extensions were appended to the rear, but these alterations have not compromised the integrity of the original Georgian structure.

Early Ownership and Uses

Construction and Initial Owners

The site of Stocks House originated as the medieval manor of La Stok, first referenced in historical records from 1176 when William de Mandeville held land there. In 1270, John de la Stock died seised of a of land in La Stok, held in of the of St. Albans, underscoring its early manorial status within the parish of , . The manor remained a significant holding for local , evolving from a timber-framed structure of the late into the present Georgian mansion. The current Stocks House was erected in 1773 by Arnold Duncombe, who commissioned the rebuild on a new site slightly northwest of the original , demolishing most of the prior building while preserving a fragment incorporated into the service wing. Arnold, son of John Duncombe and grandson of Robert Duncombe—who had owned an earlier version of the manor in the —had inherited the estate upon his father's death in 1746. The new house served primarily as a private country residence for the Duncombe family, reflecting their status as local landowners with manorial rights over surrounding parkland, orchards, and formal gardens depicted on contemporary maps. Ownership remained with the Duncombe family until Arnold's death in 1774, after which the estate passed to his nephew William Hayton in the late . Hayton held it until his death in 1811, when it transferred to the Whitbread family through the marriage of Hayton's half-niece to Samuel Whitbread II; the Whitbreads maintained possession into the early before it devolved to the Gordon family via Harriet Whitbread's marriage to James Adam Gordon around 1825. Throughout this period, Stocks House functioned as an elite rural retreat, embodying the gentry's control over manorial estates and local agrarian resources.

19th and Early 20th Century Residents

In the late , Stocks House briefly came under the ownership of Edward , 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon, who inherited the property in 1891 following the death of its previous owner, James Adam Gordon. , then a rising Liberal politician, did not reside there due to his burgeoning career and sold the estate in 1896 to the novelist (known as Mrs. Humphry Ward) and her husband, Thomas Humphry Ward. Ward, a bestselling author whose novel Robert Elsmere (1888) sold over a million copies and sparked debates on religious doubt, had rented Stocks as a country retreat from their home starting in 1892, using it for writing and family life until her death there in 1920. During Ward's residency, Stocks House became a hub for literary and intellectual gatherings, reflecting the era's growing influence of middle-class writers in rural estates. The Wards hosted a renowned salon, particularly on Sunday evenings, where discussions on , , and social reform drew prominent figures such as , , , , and . Ward wrote several major works at the house, including Helbeck of Bannisdale (1898) and The Case of Richard Meynell (1911), and oversaw significant renovations in 1907–1908 to address structural issues while preserving its Georgian character. Family relatives, including the Trevelyans, Arnolds, and Huxleys, were frequent visitors, underscoring the estate's role as a summer retreat for urban elites connected to Victorian literary circles. Earlier in the century, during Gordon's ownership, the house reputedly hosted , whose visit may have inspired elements of his novel based on nearby Beacon. Following Ward's death, the property passed to her son, Arnold Ward, a , who inherited it in 1920 but sold it shortly thereafter due to gambling debts; it was acquired by the Blezard family in the early 1920s. The Blezards later transferred it to Arthur Brown, who resided there in the pre-World War II years, continuing its use as a private residence amid Hertfordshire's shifting landscape. This succession highlighted Stocks House's transition from a center of literary prominence to a more subdued family estate, emblematic of early 20th-century rural England's blend of cultural legacy and quiet affluence.

Mid-20th Century Transformations

Educational Institution Period

In 1944, Stocks House became Brondesbury-at-Stocks, a Catholic residential for upper-class girls. This provided a rural setting in , allowing the institution to focus on preparing young women for social and domestic roles. The curriculum emphasized deportment, modern languages, and , leveraging the estate's grounds for activities such as riding, where students often brought their own ponies to foster poise and outdoor skills in a serene environment. The school housed dozens of boarders, adapting upper rooms into dormitories with minimal architectural alterations to preserve the manor's historic fabric while accommodating communal living. Brondesbury-at-Stocks operated successfully through the decades under headmistress Katharina Forbes-Dunlop, but by the early , shifting social norms and declining interest in traditional finishing schools led to its closure upon her retirement in 1972, after which the property was sold.

Transition to Entertainment Venue

Following the closure of Brondesbury-at-Stocks earlier in 1972, the property was acquired by , a prominent American executive overseeing Enterprises' European operations, and his partner, , an English . Lownes' motivation for the purchase was to create a British counterpart to Hugh Hefner's in , providing a rural retreat near to embody the company's lifestyle and facilitate European business activities. This move aligned with 's broader global expansion during the 1970s, which included opening additional clubs and casinos in the UK, such as those in and in 1973, to capitalize on the growing entertainment and gaming sectors. Stocks House was envisioned as a potential site for such operations, including staff training. Initial preparations focused on adapting the estate for Playboy use, with the mansion serving as a training base for "bunnies" and basic updates to support operational needs. The local community in reacted with a mix of and approval to the American newcomers; residents described Lownes as friendly and noted his contributions to village events, such as supporting the annual Donkey Derby, which helped foster positive relations despite the property's shift from educational to entertainment purposes.

Playboy Ownership

Acquisition and Renovations

Following the acquisition of Stocks House in 1972 by Playboy executive and his wife for £115,000, the property underwent extensive renovations to transform it into a luxurious private retreat while preserving its Georgian heritage. The upgrades, completed over several years, blended the mansion's 18th-century architectural features with contemporary opulence, including the addition of a private , a games room, and modernized kitchens and bedrooms designed to accommodate high-profile guests. It was also used as a for Playboy Bunnies. A key feature was the installation of a large indoor and a massive reputedly the largest in the country at the time. The renovation project was ambitious in scope, encompassing structural enhancements alongside lavish interior fittings to suit the Playboy aesthetic. These changes aimed to maintain the estate's historical elegance—such as its Grade II listed facade—while introducing modern amenities that reflected the era's hedonistic luxury trends. Although initially envisioned as a for Playboy affiliates, the house primarily functioned as Lownes' personal residence and a venue for exclusive events, rarely operating in a formal club capacity. The transformations had notable local effects in the nearby village of , where renovations created employment opportunities for staff, including housekeeping and maintenance roles filled by residents. The project fostered community goodwill through economic contributions.

Social and Celebrity Events

During the Playboy ownership era under , Stocks House served as a prominent venue for extravagant social gatherings that epitomized the brand's hedonistic ethos. Lownes hosted frequent lavish parties at the estate, often lasting 24 hours or more, featuring opulent amenities such as a private , games room, , and reputedly the largest in the country at the time. These events, which drew large numbers of guests arriving by hot-air balloon or helicopter, were characterized by an atmosphere of indulgence and debauchery, including tales of naked liaisons amid the grounds. Renovations to the property, including the addition of these recreational facilities, facilitated such high-profile weekend spectacles. Notable attendees at these parties included Playboy founder , who visited multiple times, as well as rock stars like , , , and ; actors such as , , , and ; and other figures including director , comedian , broadcaster , and racing legend . Models and Playboy Bunnies were regular participants, enhancing the events' glamorous and risqué reputation. A standout occasion was the 1979 celebration of Playboy's 25th anniversary, a 25-hour affair that consumed 8,000 bottles of champagne, complete with a fairground, aerobatic displays, and celebrity guests. Lownes also leveraged Stocks House for charitable endeavors, hosting fundraisers that supported local community causes in . He organized events tied to the annual Tring Donkey Derby, where Playboy Bunnies and celebrities appeared to boost attendance and proceeds, and personally distributed Christmas hampers to elderly residents in the area. These activities portrayed Lownes as a generous benefactor amid his flamboyant lifestyle, fostering goodwill in the local villages of and . The social scene at Stocks House garnered significant media attention, with British tabloids dubbing it the " Playboy Mansion" for its parallels to Hefner's estate in terms of celebrity-fueled excess and publicity. Coverage often highlighted the prurient escapades, contributing to Lownes' nickname "Victor (disgusting) Lownes" in satirical outlets like . In 1983, following challenges to the Playboy operations, Lownes briefly reopened the property as a 17-bedroom and conference center, though this venture operated for only a short period before closing.

Later Commercial Phase

Phil Edmonds Acquisition

Following the Playboy era under and a subsequent period of ownership by , Stocks House was acquired by , a former Test er, in the 1990s. Edmonds, who had built an entrepreneurial career in finance and leisure industries alongside his cricket fame, viewed the purchase as a dual-purpose —serving as a family home while offering potential for future development. He implemented minor updates to the property, including the addition of all-weather cricket pitches, to support family life and recreational use. Leveraging his prominence from 51 Test matches for between 1975 and 1987, Edmonds hosted celebrity matches and charity events at the estate, drawing on the expansive grounds to organize these high-profile gatherings that blended his sporting legacy with philanthropic efforts.

Hotel and Spa Conversion

During ' ownership, Stocks House was converted into the Stocks Golf Resort Hotel and Health Spa in the early 1990s, shifting the property from private residential use to a commercial operation. This transformation rebranded the historic as a luxury , integrating it with new recreational amenities to attract guests seeking relaxation and leisure activities. A major development was the addition of an 18-hole golf course to the surrounding grounds, which became a core feature of the , drawing enthusiasts to the site. The health spa was established to provide treatments such as massages and wellness therapies, while the main house was adapted to accommodate guests in multiple bedrooms, blending with modern comforts. These facilities supported the 's role as a high-end venue for events like weddings and corporate retreats, capitalizing on its rural location for a serene escape. The operation was successful in hosting guests and events through the late 1990s. However, maintaining the Grade II-listed building proved costly due to ongoing preservation needs, while the resort faced stiff competition from established destinations like and The Grove, which offered similar luxury experiences.

Return to Private Residence

Sale and Restoration

In 2004, Stocks House was sold to businessman Peter Harris, a retired and founder of Bourne Leisure, for an undisclosed sum amid financial difficulties faced by its operation as a and . The purchase marked the end of its commercial phase, as the property had struggled with operational costs and market competition in the sector following its conversion in the 1990s. Harris, known for his entrepreneurial success with a estimated at £360 million (as of 2011), acquired the estate to return it to private use. The restoration process, spanning 2004 to 2008, focused on reversing the wear from decades of institutional and commercial use, including extensive roof repairs, interior redecoration to revive original Georgian features, and comprehensive garden restoration to restore the landscape's historical layout. These efforts were guided by a commitment to preserving the Grade II listed building's architectural integrity. A planning application submitted to Borough Council was approved, allowing the conversion to residential use while mandating the retention of the adjacent golf course for public access and ensuring the protection of listed elements such as the neoclassical facade and period interiors. Following the renovations, Stocks House was transformed back into a single-family residence with 12 bedrooms, serving as a private home for Harris and his family, including his former son-in-law, the late , who had resided there following his marriage to Harris's daughter Alison. This reversion emphasized the estate's original domestic purpose, blending modern family living with historical preservation.

Current Status

Since its conversion to a private residence in 2004, Stocks House has remained under private ownership with no public access permitted. The Georgian mansion, fully restored following its closure as a , is maintained in excellent condition, emphasizing its original architectural features while ensuring privacy through enhanced estate boundaries added after the restoration. It is now primarily occupied by Harris's daughter, Alison Swinburn. No significant changes or developments have been reported for the property between 2020 and 2025, though it receives occasional mentions in local heritage documentation. Its Grade II listed status, designated in 1973, continues to mandate preservation efforts, and the estate lies adjacent to Aldbury's conservation area, contributing to the broader historic landscape of the village.

Cultural References

Film and Television Appearances

Stocks House has appeared in several notable television productions and music videos, leveraging its imposing Georgian architecture and expansive grounds to depict settings of intrigue and luxury. In 1967, during its pre-Playboy ownership, the mansion's exterior and interiors served as the primary location for the episode "Murdersville" from the British spy series The Avengers. The episode, the 23rd in the fourth season, features the house as the residence of Major Paul Croft in the fictional village of Little Storping, doubling as a secretive villains' lair where sinister experiments unfold. Directed by Paul Ciappessoni and starring Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg, the production utilized the estate's rural isolation and grand interiors to enhance the story's atmosphere of hidden menace. The property's association with the Playboy era in the 1970s and 1980s made it a fitting backdrop for evoking themes of domesticity, excess, and celebrity. Exterior shots of Stocks House appear toward the end of Madness's 1982 for "Our House," the band's biggest hit, which reached number 5 on the charts. Filmed primarily in a in , , the video contrasts everyday British life with glimpses of opulent estates, including Stocks House—then residence—highlighting remnants of its earlier incarnation as a 19th-century through visible architectural details like expansive lawns and period facades. Similarly, the 1984 for Hanoi Rocks's cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "," from the Finnish band's album Two Steps from the Move, incorporated scenes of lavish Playboy-style parties within the mansion's interiors and grounds, capturing the era's hedonistic vibe during the band's popularity peak. Productions were drawn to Stocks House by its secluded rural grandeur in , approximately 30 miles northwest of , offering a blend of historical elegance and versatile spaces away from urban constraints. Permissions for filming were routinely granted across ownership phases—from private estate in the 1960s, Playboy residency in the 1970s–1980s, to commercial hotel in the 1990s—facilitating seamless access to both interiors and 182-acre grounds.

Music and Literary Connections

Stocks House holds significant literary associations, particularly through its long-term resident , known as Mrs. Humphry Ward, who occupied the property from 1892 until her death in 1920. During this period, the Georgian mansion served as a hub for her prolific writing, where she composed several of her bestselling novels amid the estate's expansive parkland setting. Ward, a niece of and a prominent figure in Victorian and Edwardian literary circles, hosted intellectual salons at Stocks House, attracting notable visitors such as members of the Trevelyan, Arnold, and Huxley families, as well as American novelist . The house's influence extended to Ward's creative output, inspiring fictional depictions of English country houses in her works. Her 1894 novel Marcella, a social realist story exploring themes of class and , drew directly from the family's relocation to Stocks House, with the estate's rural landscape shaping the narrative's setting and atmosphere. Earlier in the 19th century, Stocks House had connections to Romantic literature; Scottish novelist , a friend of former owner James Adam Gordon, is reputed to have visited the property around 1832, and local tradition holds that the nearby village of inspired the title of his 1819 novel . In the realm of music, Stocks House gained modern cultural prominence through its role in the 1997 Oasis album Be Here Now. The iconic cover photoshoot, captured by Michael Spencer Jones on April 16, 1997, took place at the then-hotel and spa, featuring the band amid the mansion's grounds, including a staged scene with a submerged Rolls-Royce in the pool. This created an iconic image of rock excess that defined the album's release on August 21, 1997, and sold over 8 million copies worldwide. The property's broader cultural legacy bridges and through its Playboy era associations. From 1972 to 1980, under American executive , Stocks House hosted extravagant parties frequented by celebrities, including musicians, which later featured in music biographies recounting the hedonistic backdrop to 1970s rock scenes. This history contextualizes Oasis's choice of location, symbolizing a nod to rock's indulgent heritage in contemporary accounts of the band's career.

References

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  2. https://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/news/hertfordshire-news/oasis-playboy-exclusive-village-hertfordshire-4879236
  3. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30439991/mary_augusta-ward
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  5. https://www.ft.com/content/0cc40f72-de4b-11e6-86ac-f253db7791c6
  6. https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/playboy-london-victor-lownes
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  13. http://hertsgardenstrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Stocks.pdf
  14. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/physical/view/1989415800
  15. https://www.nybooks.com/articles/1991/02/14/fallen-woman/
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  20. http://www.hertfordshire-genealogy.co.uk/data/places/places-a/aldbury/aldbury-stocks-house.htm
  21. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/the-dowager-countess-of-strathmore-and-kinghorne-obituary-jm6j39r9b
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  24. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38586226
  25. https://wikishire.co.uk/wiki/Stocks_House
  26. https://web.archive.org/web/20170505100849/http://www.tringtoday.co.uk/news/the-playboy-who-threw-parties-in-aldbury-1-7778466
  27. https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/phil-edmonds-12486
  28. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/any-other-business-digging-under-the-pitch-1387883.html
  29. https://alchetron.com/Stocks-House
  30. https://www.dacorum.gov.uk/docs/default-source/planning-development/planning---character-appraisals---aldbury-consultation.pdf?sfvrsn=8c4d0d9f_2
  31. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0516868/locations/
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  33. https://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/news/hertfordshire-news/visited-aldbury-first-time-felt-5191634
  34. https://tringlocalhistorymuseum.org.uk/society/2025-1.html
  35. https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/oasis/this-is-how-much-oasis-be-here-now-cover-cost/
  36. https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/cars/article/oasis-rolls-royce-be-here-now-album-cover
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