Waddesdon Manor is owned by the National Trust and managed by the Rothschild Foundation, giving it a unique stewardship arrangement among UK historic properties[1][3]. The manor was built for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild between 1874 and 1889 and remained in Rothschild family hands for generations until James de Rothschild bequeathed the house and its contents to the National Trust in 1957[1][2][4]. Since then, while the Trust holds legal ownership, the Rothschild Foundation (chaired by Dame Hannah Rothschild as of recent years) manages, preserves, and continues to invest in the estate[1][3][5].
Unusually for a National Trust property, the donor’s family retains significant involvement in management, operations, and the ongoing development of Waddesdon Manor, reflecting its deep historical and personal connection to the Rothschild family[1][3][6]. Additionally, the wider estate land surrounding the manor (but not the house and immediate gardens) remains privately owned by the Rothschild family[5].
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