6. The Family Owns Iconic Estates in Ireland and England
The Guinness family’s legacy is reflected in their ownership of significant estates in both Ireland and England. In 1873, Edward Cecil Guinness, the great-grandson of Arthur Guinness, purchased Farmleigh House in Dublin’s Phoenix Park. This 78-acre estate, now the official Irish State guesthouse, features an eclectic Edwardian mansion, extensive gardens, and a working farm with a herd of Kerry Black cows (farmleigh.ie). In 1894, the family acquired Elveden Hall in Suffolk, England, along with 17,000 acres from Maharajah Duleep Singh. The estate has been a working farm, producing a significant portion of the UK’s onions. During World War II, Elveden Hall served as a headquarters for the USAAF.
