Last Alteration: Sunday 07 April 2013
Dropmore House
Dropmore House
Dropmore Park, Taplow, Buckinghamshire
The Dropmore estate was created by Lord Grenville in the 18th Century, and is reknowned for its extensive 220 acre gardens, which contain one of Europe's finest collection of pine trees. The estate passed into the hands of the Fortesque family, and then owned by newspaper proprietor Lord Kelmsley, and at the time of filming for Doctor Who was owned by the University of San Diego as part of the United States International University.
The house is a Grade I listed building, but suffered tremendously in recent decades. Two fires, one in 1990 and another in 1997, damaged the house, with the eastern wing pretty much burned to the ground. However, in 2004 Papa Architects gained planning permission to redevelop the house and site into new residential apartments.
26 Aug 2011: Renovation is on hold at present due to the company developing the site being in administration.
How to get here:
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Road: M40 - Exit junction 2 (Beaconsfield), and head south on the A355. Turn right onto Burnham Road (first junction); this becomes Ship Hill. Turn right into Deansway; this eventually becomes Littleworth Road and then Dropmore Road. Dropmore Park is on the right, and then follow the trail to the house. Access and Parking: unknown. +
Other nearby locations:
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Burnham Beeches (State of Decay). Road (2.9 miles, 19m) : Head west through Dropmore Park until you reach the main road; turn left along Little Road and then turn right onto Dorney Wood Road. Continue along this until you reach Curriers Lane on the left, then follow this as it becomes Pumpkin Hill and then Hawthorn Lane. Turn right into Burnham Beeches onto Lord Mayor's Drive. Parking: free.
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Lafarge Aggregates (Marlow) (The Ambassadors of Death). Road (4.4 miles, 19m) : Head west out of the park, then turn left onto Heathfield Road. Turn right into Bourne End Road towards Wooburn; as you reach the town bear left into Hedsor Road. As you pass through the town this becomes Station Road and then bear left onto The Parade and then Marlow Road (A4155). Coldmoorholme Lane is just out of the town on the left; Follow the road down until you eventually reach a car park. Parking: free. From here walk back along Coldmoorholme Lane to the public footpath into Spade Oak Nature Reserve (opposite Enid Blyton's cottage Old Thatch). Walk anti-clockwise along the path around the lake until you reach Lafarge Aggregate's entrance.
Additional locations as the crow flies:
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Little Marlow Sewage Treatment Works (The Ambassadors of Death): 3.37 miles. 
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Gerrards Cross Sand and Gravel Quarry (The Tomb of the Cybermen, The Dominators, The Twin Dilemma, Attack of the Cybermen): 3.38 miles.
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Gossmore Lane (The Ambassadors of Death): 4.24 miles.
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Little Paston (Battlefield): 4.57 miles.
Further links about the location:
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Dropmore Park Estate - Estate website
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30 Jun 2008: Evening Standard - Homes and Property - "The fall and rise of Dropmore"
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4 Sep 2007: Taplow Society - A visit to Dropmore
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1 Apr 2007: BBC News - "Abolitionist's house escapes ruin" - details on the restoration project for the house.
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12 Apr 2006: Taplow Society - Details on Dropmore House
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12 Feb 2006: Times Online - Article on stately homes being redeveloped.
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Mar 2005: BBC Three Counties - Restoration requirements in Buckinghamshire
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2002: Canadian Red Cross Memorial Hospital - Dropmore House investigation
Related Stories
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Day of the Daleks [13 Sep 1971]
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