William Anson, a London lawyer, bought a medieval manor house at Shugborough in 1624. His grandson, also William, replaced it in 1653 with a modest two-storey brick house which forms the core of Shugborough Hall today. William and his wife Isabella had ten children and it was two brothers, Thomas and George Anson, who were to have a lasting effect on Shugborough. Thomas Anson (1695–1773) was passionate about architecture, classical art and music. He travelled the world on extensive ‘Grand Tours’. However, much of his art collection was dispersed in 1842. Thomas enlarged Shugborough’s landscape, dotting it with eclectic monuments. The house was continuously remodelled, including in 1748 by Thomas Wright, in c. 1768 by James ‘Athenian’ Stuart, and in 1790–8 and 1803–6 by Samuel Wyatt. The interior contains fine Rococo and Neo-classical decoration, including ceilings by Vassalli, after Guido Reni, and Joseph Rose. The second brother, George Anson (1697–1762) served as First Lord of the Admiralty. A national hero after his famous circumnavigation of the globe in 1740–4, on a mission to enhance British imperial ambition, he captured a Spanish treasure ship laden with silver from their colonial territories. After his death in 1762 with no heir, his huge share of this ‘prize’ came to Thomas, who used it to further embellish Shugborough’s landscape. Many items in the collection commemorate his naval achievements and travels. The c. 1747 Chinese House in the Pleasure Grounds is one of the earliest in England and said to have been inspired by George’s time in Guangzhou (Canton).