West Wycombe House in 1959. The house was built in the 18th century for the Dashwood family. Its exterior is neo-classical with a double colonnade on the south front and porticoes at both the east and west sides. It is regarded as one of the best examples of Palladian architecture in Europe. The richly decorated house and 300 acres of landscaped parkland, with a lake and several classical temples, are open to the public in the summer. Author: F Mitchell,