History
In 1612 Edward Somerset, the 4th Earl of Worcester, bought from Nicholas Boteler his manors of Great and Little Badminton, called 'Madmintune' in the Domesday Book while one century earlier the name 'Badimyncgtun' was recorded, held by that family since 1275. Edward Somerset's 3rd son Sir Thomas Somerset modernized the old house in the late 1620s, and built a new T-shaped gabled range. Evidence suggests he also built up on the present north and west fronts. The 3rd Duke of Beaufort adapted Sir Thomas Somerset's house by incorporating his several gabled ranges around the courtyard and extending the old house eastwards to provide a new set of domestic apartments. He raised a grand Jonesian centrepiece on the north front. The two bay flanking elevations were five storeys high, and this was modified in 1713 when reduced to three storeys. The architect William Kent renovated and extended the house in the Palladian style in the early 18th century, but many earlier elements remain. The sport of badminton was re-introduced from British India and popularised at the house, hence the sport's name.
Queen Mary stayed at Badminton House for much of World War II. Her staff occupied most of the building, to the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort's inconvenience.
In the 21st century, Badminton House is best known for the annual Badminton Horse Trials.
Badminton House is also very strongly associated with fox hunting. Successive Dukes of Beaufort have been masters of the Beaufort Hunt, which is probably one of the two most famous hunts in the United Kingdom alongside the Quorn Hunt.
Badminton was open to the public at one time, but is not at present (as of 2012). It was the location for some scenes of the films The Remains of the Day, 28 Days Later and Pearl Harbor.
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