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Dover House (Fetherstonhaugh House) (York House) (Melbourne House) 
Whitehall, London, England
Started 1754
Completed 1758 w/1787 alterations
Status: Fully Extant
Whitehall, London, England
Started 1754
Completed 1758 w/1787 alterations
Status: Fully Extant
Special Info / Location/ Date
Special Info
Phonetic Pronunciation of House Name
Location
Country
England
District Today
London
Historic County
City / Town / Village
Whitehall
Latitude
51.50426
Longitude
-0.12674
Date
Start Date
1754
Completion Date
1758 w/1787 alterations
Circa Date
Images
Click on thumbnail for a larger view
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Architects
| Designed | Added Portico and domed Entrance Hall and rebuilt West Front in Neoclasical style for Frederick, Duke of York. |
| Date | 1787 |
| Designed | House for Sir Matthew Fetherstonhaugh |
| Date | 1754-58 |
Extant / Listed / References
Extant
Extant Type
Fully Extant
Extant Details
Listed
House Listed As
Grade I
Gardens Listed As
No Gardens
On SAVE Britain's Heritage's List of Buildings at Risk
No
Country House: No
Townhouse
References
Vitruvius Britannicus
Vitruvius Scoticus
J.B. Burke (Burke's Visitation of Seats)
Country Life
J.P. Neale (Neale's Views of Seats)
Access / Ownership / Seat
Access
Open to Public Please note: Houses listed as being open "By Appointment" are usually country house hotels or B&Bs.
No
Historic Houses Association Member
Phone Number If calling from the U.S., delete the first "0" in British numbers.
Fax Number
Email
Website
Awards
Current Ownership
Current Ownership Type
Government
Primary Current Ownership Use
Offices
Current Ownership Use / Details
Currently serves as the Scotland Office of the British government.
Seat ("Seat" is loosely defined
as any family that occupied the house for a period of 2 years or more)
Today Seat of
A Past Seat(s) of
Sir Matthew Fetherstonhaugh, Bt., 1758-76. Frederick, Duke of York, late 18th century. Melbourne family, 1793-1830. George James Welbore Agar-Ellis, Lord Dover, and his family, 1830-85.
Possible (Unsure) Seat of
History / Gardens & Park / Movies
History
Earlier House(s) / Building(s)
House Replaced By
Built / Designed For
Sir Matthew Fetherstonhaugh, Bt.
House & Family History
Originally designed as Fetherstonhaugh House by James Paine for Sir Matthew Fetherstonhaugh, Bt., MP, in the 1750s, and sold by his widow circa 1776. Prince Frederick, Duke of York (son of George III) purchased the House in Dec 1787 and promptly renamed it York House (something he was to do again when he purchased Melbourne House in Piccadilly in 1792; the name appeared again when the Duke began to build today's Lancaster House, St. James's). Frederick engaged Henry Holland to update and enlarge the House in the fashionable Neoclassical style. Renamed Dover House in the 1830s (after the last private owner, George James Welbore Agar-Ellis, Lord Dover), the House has served as the government's Scotland Office since Lord Dover's family vacated in 1885. Dover House's rotunda inserted into a former forecourt (designed by Henry Holland) is a unique entrance to a London mansion.
Collections
This field lists art objects that are currently or were previously in the collection of the house.
For information on the history of British currency, click here. To use a chart that allows you to compare the purchasing power of money In Great Britain from 1264 to any other year, including the present, click here. To use a currency conversion to see the current value of the British pound, click here.
For information on the history of British currency, click here. To use a chart that allows you to compare the purchasing power of money In Great Britain from 1264 to any other year, including the present, click here. To use a currency conversion to see the current value of the British pound, click here.
Comments
Gardens & Park
Garden, Park, Follies and Outbuildings
Chapel & Church
Movies
Location for Movies / TV
Bibliography
| Author | Colvin, Howard |
| Year Published | 2008 |
| Reference | pgs. 529, 769 |
| Author | Woodley, Roger |
| Year Published | 2002 |
| Reference |
| Author | Watkin, David |
| Year Published | 2004 |
| Reference | pgs. 197-198 |
Related Resources
There are no documents associated with this house.
