Cliveden entered a period of relative decline following the death of Frederick, Prince of Wales, though its royal connections remained intact through the 4th Earl of Inchiquin, descended from the Kings of Ireland and husband to the 2nd Countess of Orkney.
The earldom of Orkney was subsequently passed on through the female line for three successive generations – thought to be the only such instance in British history. It was in Mary, 4th Countess of Orkney’s tenure that Cliveden burned down for the first time, in July 1795. Only the two wings of the House survived, in which the Countess continued to live for more than 20 years after the fire.
The death of Mary’s son, the first Viscount Kirkwall, in 1820 provoked an auction of the entire Cliveden estate, which was purchased by Sir George Warrender in 1824. Thus ended a somewhat ill fated and undistinguished period in Cliveden’s history.
Cliveden, 1751-1824 - Three Countesses of Orkney
