in
Le Nouveau Théâtre de la Grande Bretagne, 1697–99 The house was built by
Edward Conway, 1st Earl of Conway (1623–1683) to the designs of William Hurlbert, with modifications by
Robert Hooke and was completed after his death in 1683. The interior was subsequently modified on at least three occasions, to the designs of
James Gibbs circa 1750–56; of
James Wyatt circa 1778–83 and of William Tasker circa 1871–73. and his mother the philosopher
Elizabeth Foxcroft.
Franciscus Mercurius van Helmont was Anne's physician from 1671 until her death in 1679. The secondary seat of the Seymour-Conway family, Earls of Hertford, was
Sudbourne Hall in Suffolk and their London
townhouse was
Hertford House. Financial instability of the Seymour family left the house threatened with demolition more than once. In 1912, following the death of
Hugh Seymour, 6th Marquess of Hertford, the estate's trustees recommended that the house be demolished. However, during World War I and World War II, the house found use as a military hospital.
Hugh Seymour, 8th Marquess of Hertford, who in 1940 inherited Ragley Hall from his uncle
George Seymour, 7th Marquess of Hertford, fought to save it after the war. It was refurbished between 1956 and 1958, when it became one of the first stately homes opened to the public. In 1983, the painter
Graham Rust completed a huge mural including pets, friends and family members which is known as "The Temptation" and is exhibited on the Southern staircase. Ragley was the site of the
Jerwood Sculpture Park, opened in July 2004. The Park included works that won the Jerwood Sculpture Prizes, and the work of Dame
Elisabeth Frink, among others. However, the site was closed in April 2012. Since 2017, the property has not been open to the general public but was available as a venue for events as of 2023. Maintenance of the park area is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. ==In popular culture==