A 44-year-old man from Buckinghamshire has been taken into custody following an incident at Chequers, the official country residence of the UK Prime Minister. The arrest occurred after the man’s white Volkswagen Scirocco crashed into the gates of the estate on Tuesday.
Thames Valley Police responded to reports of the collision on Missenden Road, Aylesbury, shortly after midday. The driver, who was alone in the vehicle, sustained serious injuries and was transported to hospital, where he remained under medical care on Tuesday evening.
Authorities have arrested the man on suspicion of criminal damage and drink-driving. A police spokesperson stated, “Whilst our investigation is in its early stages, there is presently no evidence to suggest any intent to cause harm.”
Chequers, also known as Chequers Court, is a historic country house situated near the village of Ellesborough in Buckinghamshire, nestled at the foot of the Chiltern Hills. For over a century, it has served as the official second residence for incumbent prime ministers.
The estate boasts impressive features, including 10 bedrooms, a heated indoor swimming pool housed in the Orangery, a putting green, and expansive grounds covering 1,500 acres.
The property was bequeathed to the nation in 1917 by Conservative minister Sir Arthur Lee and his American heiress wife, Ruth. Their intention, as outlined in the Chequers Estate Act 1917, was to provide prime ministers with a retreat where they could “spend two days a week in the high and pure air of the Chiltern hills and woods”.
This gift was motivated by the belief that “the better the health of our rulers, the more sanely will they rule”. A commemorative stained-glass window within the house bears the inscription: “This house of peace and ancient memories was given to England as a thank-offering for her deliverance in the great war of 1914–1918 as a place of rest and recreation for her Prime Ministers for ever.”
As the investigation into Tuesday’s incident continues, authorities have not released further details about the circumstances surrounding the collision.
