Chequers

Chequers is a 16th-century manor house in Buckinghamshire, standing near the village of Ellesborough between Princes Risborough and Wendover. It occupies a 200-hectare estate in the Chiltern Hills, sheltered by surrounding hills and woodland. The house sits in a shallow valley with little modern development visible. Coombe Hill, once part of the estate, lies two-thirds of a mile to the northeast. The name comes from the Checker family, who owned the estate in the 12th and 13th centuries. The house has served as the country home of the serving prime minister since 1921, given to the nation by Viscount Lee of Fareham. It contains one of the largest collections of Cromwell memorabilia in the country. The estate includes landscaped parkland, woodlands, and formal gardens. During the Second World War, Winston Churchill used Ditchley until security improvements were made at Chequers. The house has been a protected site since 2007. Visitors find a Grade I-listed house with Tudor panelling and windows, restored in the 19th century. A reception room bears the name of William Hawtrey, who built the current house around 1565. Lady Mary Grey, confined by Queen Elizabeth I, slept in a room that remains in its original condition. The house also holds national antiques and books in the "long room". The surrounding Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty offers scenic views.