George Devey undertook later architectural work on the house and on the estate, such as the park gateway (in Stablebridge Road) together with the adjacent lodge and stables; a number of estate cottages; Anthony Hall (referred to above); and the Chiltern Hills waterworks (acquired from the Rothschilds by the Chiltern Hills Spring Water Company in 1866):
“The other day I went over to see the sanitary improvements carried out by Sir Anthony Rothschild in his cottages at Aston Clinton and adjoining villages. I found that in each cottage, water brought from the Chiltern Hills had been laid on. It is not everyone who can, in this particular, follow the example of Sir Anthony, or who, if willing, has a public water works so near at hand. I have mentioned it, because on inquiry of the cottagers, I found that it was a boon highly prized.”
The Farmer’s Magazine, Volume 76, 1874
Returning to the family, in 1840 Anthony married Louisa Montefiore (1821-1910), daughter of the Jewish banker and philanthropist Sir Moses Montefiore. Lady de Rothschild was also a philanthropist and became a founding member of the Union of Jewish Women. She had two daughters, Constance (Baroness Battersea, 1843-1931), wife of property developer and Liberal Party politician Cyril Flower (Lord Battersea, 1843-1907); and Annie Henrietta (1844-1926), who married the politician the Hon. Elliot Constantine Yorke (1843-1878), son of Charles Yorke (4th Earl of Hardwicke). Both daughters inherited their parents’ sense of moral responsibility, both being active in the temperance movement and in philanthropic enterprises.
From an early age Constance, in particular, took an interest in children’s education:
“It was about that time [c. 1859] that, my father asking me what I should like to have for a birthday present, I boldly answered, An Infants’ School. My request was granted, and I was allowed to lay the first stone of the new building. I must add that the capital teaching in this school, with the songs and recitations of the infants, greatly entertained my dear father for many years. It is not a little interesting to record here that Matthew Arnold was our first Inspector, and became one of our greatest friends.”
Reminiscences by Constance Lady Battersea (1922)
As with the other Rothschildshire houses, Aston Clinton saw its share of visits by personalities of the day, including Robert Browning, Lord Tennyson, Gladstone, Disraeli, Matthew Arnold and Thackeray, while distinguished artists such as Sir Charles Hallé (pianist) and Joseph Joachim (violinist) were invited to perform at the family’s parties. Sir Anthony’s little daughters could take a survey course in nineteenth century English political and literary history simply by walking through their father’s drawing room. But even for a man of Sir Anthony’s wealth, entertaining must sometimes have proved expensive: