was known as the reforming Lord Shaftesbury in the 19th century, who fought for the abolition of slavery. His eldest son, the 8th Earl, sat as Member of Parliament for Kingston upon Hull and Cricklade. He was succeeded by his son, the 9th Earl, who was the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Lord Lieutenant of Belfast, County Antrim and Dorset and Lord Steward of the Household. On his death, the titles passed to his grandson, the 10th Earl, the son of Major Lord Ashley. In 2004, Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 10th Earl of Shaftesbury was murdered by his wife and brother-in-law. They were convicted of the crime in 2007, two years after the 10th Earl's body was found dismembered in the French Alps. His eldest son, Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 11th Earl of Shaftesbury inherited the titles and estate but died soon afterwards in May 2005 of a heart attack at the age of 27. The inheritance consequently transferred to his younger brother Nicholas Ashley-Cooper, 12th Earl of Shaftesbury, who was then living in New York. He returned to England to manage the estate. Recent history During World War I, part of St Giles house was used as a hospital, and in World War II, it was requisitioned and used as a school, the 9th Earl and family moving to an apartment within the house. In 1954 the burden of running the house became too great and the family retreated to the dower house, known as Mainsail Haul. This manor house is located near the centre of Wimborne St Giles. St Giles was largely unoccupied apart from one wing used as the estate office. With the intention of returning St Giles to its original design, in 1973 the 10th Earl demolished the southwest wing and the kitchen wing, as well as the Victorian tower. A joinery business was operated from the basement – during the 10th Earl's tenure, the estate woodlands were restored and a million trees were planted. However, by 2001 St Giles House was recorded on the Register of Buildings at Risk, indicating its neglect and decay. Between 2003 and 2017, a long term interdisciplinary study was undertaken on the fabric of St Giles House and its estate. This involved documentary research and investigation, the findings from which has informed the ongoing restoration work. Following his inheritance of the estate in 2005, the 12th Earl embarked on an ambitious restoration of the House