Built by John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu, in 1731, the original Georgian house was replaced in the late 1850s by a more substantial French-style mansion designed by William Burn for the 5th Duke of Bucceluch. It housed part of the Buccleuch art collection. Montagu House was taken over for the use of the Ministry of Labour in 1917 and demolished in 1949-50.
The pictures described in the catalogues were, with few exceptions, collected by the 1st Duke of Montagu and the Marquis of Monthermer. These collections came into the possession of Elizabeth, Duchess of Buccleuch, by bequest of her mother, The Lady Mary Montagu, Duchess of Montagu. See individual items for description.