 Sir John was succeeded by his estranged son Sir George Dashwood , 5th Baronet . For the first time since the death of the 2nd Baronet in 1781 , West Wycombe became again a favoured residence . However , the estate was heavily in debt and Sir George was forced to sell the unentailed estates , including Halton , which was sold in 1851 to Lionel de Rothschild for the then huge sum of £ 54 @,@ 000 ( £ 5 @.@ 33 million in 2016 ) . The change in the Dashwoods ' fortunes allowed for the refurbishment and restoration of West Wycombe . Sir George died childless in 1862 , and left his wife , Elizabeth , a life tenancy of the house while the title and ownership passed briefly to his brother and then a nephew . Lady Dashwood 's continuing occupation of the house prevented the nephew , Sir Edwin Hare Dashwood , 7th Baronet , an alcoholic sheep farmer in the South Island of New Zealand , from living in the mansion until she died in 1889 , leaving a neglected and crumbling estate . 
