Taking Lady Florence Antrobus (1856-1923) as the central figure in his book, David explores the almost unique combination of substantial wealth, public controversy and personal tragedy that featured in the life of Florence. She was the wife of Edmund, the fourth Antrobus Baronet, and was the chatelaine of Amesbury Abbey from 1899 to 1915.

Tracing the origins of the Antrobus family back to its close association with Coutts Bank from the late Eighteenth century onwards, David relates the story of the family with its purchase of the Abbey estate in 1824 and its ownership of Stonehenge, in respect of which the Druids cursed the family. He also examines Florence's early life in Ireland where she was a friend of the influential Guinness family, as well as the family of her two sisters. One of her cousins had a disastrous marriage with the daughter of the U.S. President; another mysteriously killed himself at the early age of twenty-one years.

From fighting in the Sudan in the 1880s to the influence of the slave trade in South Carolina, we are taken into the lives and times of the aristocracy where their successes and failures, triumphs and disappointments are carefully examined. For the Antrobus family, tragedy manifested itself particularly during the First World War as a result of which Antrobus House in Amesbury was established by Florence after her death. The book is well illustrated with photographs taken from the fine collection at Antrobus House.

David's great great Aunt Lizzie was in service with Florence's sister and then Florence herself for more than forty years, and, in researching his own family history, he became fascinated with that of Florence herself.

The book can be obtained in person from Paul at Antrobus House (01980 622435) for £6.99 or by post from David himself (0207 722 4215) for £8.50.