Canning/Hayter Years
George Canning (1770–1827) owned the estate in 1801. He was a politician and holds the record as the shortest serving Prime Minister of this country, serving only 119 days. In 1801 Canning commissioned sir John Soane to design alterations to the house. The plans included, minor alterations to the library and hall, the construction of a conservatory on the south elevation overlooking the garden and adjustments to the service quarters.
1853
During the first half of the nineteenth century the estate the Earl of Limerick owned the estate. He enlarged the estate from 148 to 346 acres and began to develop the pleasure grounds to the south of the house. In 1853 Sir William Goodenough Hayter (1792–1878) bought the estate. In 1853 a remodelling of the house was undertaken, which may have been the result of a fire.
1878
During December 1878 Sir William became depressed and on 26 December was found drowned in one of the lakes at south Hill Park. He was succeeded by his only son, Arthur Divett Hayter (1835–1917). It was Arthur Hayter who would remodel the house into what we largely see today.
