Mapperton House and the Earls of Sandwich
Pete Rand
- Regions:
- South West, Surrey, Kent, West Sussex, Berkshire, London
- Notice Period:
- Regular (more than one month's notice)
- Type:
- Hobby
- Fee:
- Free: Free plus Travel
- Category:
- History
- Updated:
- 1st August 2026
As a volunteer, I don't charge a fee for my time, which means clubs, societies and other organisations can enjoy a professional, engaging presentation without the cost of hiring a speaker.
The talk explores the fascinating history of the award-winning Mapperton House, whose origins can be traced back to around 1086, and tells the story of the Montagu family (the Earls of Sandwich), who have made Mapperton their home since the late 1950s.
Using a projector where available, I take audiences on a virtual tour of the house, covering:
The history of Mapperton and its previous owners. The construction of the present house in 1540. The creation of the beautiful Italianate gardens and their opening to the public in 1924. The remarkable story of the Montagu family, including their role in the English Civil War, the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, and the invention of the sandwich in 1762, along with many other fascinating moments from British history.
The presentation also brings the story right up to the present day, looking at Mapperton's growing reputation as a filming location, including appearances in:
Far from the Madding Crowd (2015) Netflix's Rebecca (2020) Channel 4's Saving Britain's Country Houses (2025) Time Team (2026)
These talks form part of Mapperton's outreach programme, which supports local clubs, societies and community organisations by offering an informative and entertaining presentation free of charge. By removing the cost of a guest speaker, organisers are able to maximise the funds they raise from their events.
Views: 46 | Enquiries: 0About Pete Rand
I'm a retired CEO who enjoyed a successful, award-winning career of more than 40 years in the motor trade. Today, life has taken me in a very different direction. During the spring and summer, I work as a house tour guide at Mapperton, the historic home of the Earls of Sandwich. For the rest of the year, I travel throughout the South West giving free illustrated talks about Mapperton to museums, historical societies, and other interested groups.
However, my working life began in a very unexpected way. A serious cycling accident left me temporarily unable to write or paint, forcing me to postpone my college studies and my ambition of becoming a teacher. To relieve the boredom while I recovered, I left college and joined WH Smith as a trainee manager.
What was intended as a temporary diversion became the start of an unexpected and highly successful career. I was soon entrusted with running one of the company's paperback departments, where my creative and entrepreneurial approach helped to increase sales significantly. Combined with my lifelong love of books, this success brought me to the attention of Penguin Books, who unexpectedly headhunted me. In the mid-1970s, at the age of just 19, I joined this iconic publishing house as its youngest-ever sales representative, based in central London.
The two years I spent at Penguin remain among the most memorable of my life. They gave me the opportunity to meet many distinguished authors and personalities, including Michael Bond, Richard Adams, and Joanna Foyle of the famous Foyles bookshop. An equally unexpected highlight was renewing a childhood connection with Kaye Webb, the legendary editor of Puffin Books. Having been one of the founding members of the original Puffin Club, I struck up an unlikely friendship with her that became one of the most cherished memories of my time at Penguin.
For many years, my experiences as a Penguin representative were largely forgotten until I happened to mention them to a friend. He suggested that the anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories would make a fascinating talk. Fortunately, I had kept a continuous diary since 1977, which enabled me to piece together those remarkable years and create Diary of a Penguin Rep.
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