Saltram House is a George II era mansion located in Plympton, Plymouth, England. The house that can be seen today is the work of Robert Adam, who altered the original Tudor house on two occasions. The saloon (main drawing room) is sometimes cited as one of Adam's finest interiors. Complete with all of the original decor, plasterwork and furnishings, Saltram is one of Britain's best preserved examples of an early Georgian house.
Originally home to the Parker family and Earls of Morley, Saltram House changed hands when, in 1957, it became a property of the National Trust, who operate it under the name "Saltram”.
The name Saltram, derives itself from the salt that was harvested on the nearby estuary and the fact that a "ham", or homestead, was on the site before the Tudor period. The first family to be associated with the house are the Mayes, or Mayhowes, who were yeoman farmers here in the 16th century. The family owned Saltram for about 50 years, their prosperity declining at the end of the century when they began to sell and lease parts of the estate. their holdings were considerable, with a 1588 lease stated the right to farm in Saltram Wood 'and all houses, quays and buildings adjoining or upon the same', and to have fishing rights at Laira Bridge Rock and Culverhole; to hold portions of a quay called Coldharbour ; and to have the use of the Mayhowes' fishing nets.
The next family to own Saltram were the Baggs, who were likely responsible for turning the farmhouse into a mansion. Sir James Bagg purchased Saltram in about 1614 and among other roles was both the MP for Plymouth and the city Mayor. On his death the house passed to his son, James Baggs the second. James Bagg the second was succeed by his son George in 1638 at which time Saltram was described as comprising 'One great mansion house, one stable, three gardens, two acres of orchard, eight acres of meadows' and over eight acres more.
Despite having held on to Saltram through the war the Baggs lost Saltram in 1660 when it was transferred to Captain Henry Hatsell by the government in lieu of a large debt owed to him. Again, Saltram seemd to be a poisoned chalice as the Parliamentarian Hatsell was stripped of the house upon the Restoration later the same year and the house passed on to Sir George Carteret in lieu of a loan he had given to the King during the Civil War.
In 1712 George Parker purchased the house and in doing so created the dynasty which would reign over Saltram until its days as a private estate were over
Source & More Information: Wikipedia, Saltram House, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltram_House