West Dean House - The James Family

The James Family

In 1891 West Dean became the home of newly married William (Willie) Dodge James and Evelyn Forbes (often referred to as Mrs Willie James). William James had inherited great wealth from his father, American born Liverpool based merchant Daniel James and Evelyn Forbes was the daughter of Sir Charles Forbes, a Scottish aristocrat.

When James moved to the West Dean Estate in 1891, he set about altering and greatly extending the house and commissioned Ernest George and Harold Peto to do so. Ernest George helped embellish the state rooms and Harold Peto designed a 300-foot (91 m)-long pergola, still a highlight of the gardens today. West Dean House became one of the largest flint structures in the country. The interior of the house reflects William and his brothers Frank and Arthur’s, passion for big game hunting, with souvenirs of their visits to Africa, Arabia and Afghanistan displayed throughout the house.

House parties at West Dean were attended by The Prince of Wales - who became King Edward VII when his mother Queen Victoria died. He was Edward James’s Godfather and a regular participant of pheasant and partridge shoots on the West Dean estate. The Prince of Wales had a group of rich and entertaining friends that became known as the Marlborough House set and included people like Evelyn and her sister-in-law Mary Venetia James (née Cavendish-Bentinck).

William and Evelyn had five children, four girls, Millicent, Alexandra, Silvia and Audrey. In 1907, after 18 years of marriage, their son and heir Edward James was born.

William became High Sheriff of Sussex in 1897 and Deputy Lieutenant of Sussex in 1892. He was also appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order by Edward VII in 1908.