Later this month, Lord and Lady Rothermere open Ferne House, their magnificent country retreat set in 200 acres of parkland overlooking the Dorset Hills, to the public.
There can be tax advantages to be had in occasionally doing this, but I am assured the Rothermeres do it only to raise money for their chosen charities. The property – the third to stand on the site – was built just after the turn of the millennium to the design of the architect Quinlan Terry at a reported cost of £40m.
They divide their time between Ferne House, their chateau in the Dordogne, and, of course, London, where his lordship has The Daily Mail to run.
The Rothermeres open their doors to the public
MANDRAKE is assured they are opening their country retreat for charitable causes rather than tax advantages
