At last, something to post!
One of my favorite writers in Pros, Glen Fiddich, wrote a story called "By Invitation Only," which is available on the Proslib CD. Could this be an inspiration for the house in which the latter part of the story takes place?
Calke Abbey is a unique house, completed in 1704. The house has been preserved as it was found in the 1980s, giving visitors a chance to explore a period when great country houses struggled to survive. It tells the story of an eccentric family who amassed a huge collection of hidden treasures, including an 18th-century silk bed.
This text comes from a link to the website for Calke Abbey, a National Trust property:
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-calkeabbey/