Welcome toThe Rothschild Archive'swebsite

Sources for business history: plans of New Court

Sources for art history: Catalogue of the pictures of Alfred de Rothschild 1901

Sources for yachting history: Plans for Nathaniel von Rothschild's yacht Veglia 1905

Sources for natural history: Walter 2nd Lord Rothschild and his zebra carriage: c.1910

Sources for global financial history: Map of lines of the Brazil Railway Company: c.1920

Sources for business history: index cards to bank files

Sources for social history: Rothschild Hospital Paris: 1920s

Sources for business history: detail of a Rothschild bond coupon

Sources for architectural history: Halton House: 1890s

Sources for the history of travel: Lionel de Rothschild's tours of Spain: 1909

Sources for local history: Tring Park: c.1900

Sources for Royal history: shooting party with Edward Prince of Wales: 1893

Sources for political history: Lionel de Rothschild: first Jewish MP: 1858

Sources for sporting history: St Amant winner of the Derby: 1904

Sources for local history: gardeners at Aston Clinton: 1899

Sources for Rothschild family history: Lionel de Rothschild's yacht Rhodora: 1927

Sources for London history: entrance to New Court: 1965

Sources for design history: plans for Lionel de Rothschild's Rolls-Royce: 1930

Sources for business history: Rothschild gold bars produced by the Royal Mint Refinery: 1930s

Sources for business history: letters of August Belmont Rothschild Agent in New York: 1860s

Exhibition - Rothschild Gardens

11: Ile de France, Cap Ferrat

‘I have achieved my purpose by defying the laws of Nature and common-sense.’ Thus Baroness Béatrice Ephrussi, neé de Rothschild, (1864-1934) described her completed villa ‘Ile de France’ and its gardens situated on the narrowest isthmus of the Cap Ferrat.

Béatrice had purchased 17 acres of land in 1905 and it was to take 7 years, 14 architects and hundreds of engineers and workmen before her dream was realised. The design of Villa Ile de France is officially attributed to Aaron Messiah, although many hold that it was the Baroness herself who was the real designer of the pink villa inspired by Italian palazzi and medieval colonnades.

There exist several gardens within gardens, including Spanish, French, Rock, Exotic Plant and Italian gardens. These were created by the landscape architect, Achille Duchêne. From her loggia the Baroness would oversee her 30 gardeners at work bedecked in berets with red pom poms. 

When Béatrice died in 1934, she left the house complete with contents and gardens to the Académie des Beaux-Arts.  It is now a museum and may be visited by the public.

Villa et Jardins Ephrusi de Rothschild » 

Gardens of the Villa Ephrussi c.1965

Gardens of the Villa Ephrussi c.1965