In 1906 the King of Spain spent his honeymoon at Wardhouse - having survived an assassination attempt on his wedding day. But the fall of the Spanish monarchy in 1931 led to the fall of his friend Rafael Carlos Gordon, who arrived at Wardhouse destitute, having left his Countess and son in Spain. He died a few months later. The house was then let to shooting parties and was requisitioned by the army during the Second World War, but all rents and compensations found their way to Spain.
"In 1952 the estate was sold and ravaged. The mature trees were felled, the house was unroofed and gutted, and all the doors and interior woodwork removed." http://www.scalan.co.uk/Wardhouse.htm
