The house, built in 1695 of mellow local stone, was purchased and remodelled 1927–29 by Walter Samuel, 2nd Viscount Bearsted, Chairman of Shell 1921–46 and son of the founder of that company. Upton contains his outstanding collection of English and continental Old Master paintings including works by Hogarth, Stubbs, Guardi, Canaletto, Brueghel and El Greco; tapestries; French porcelain; Chelsea figures and 18th-century furniture. There is an exhibition of paintings and publicity posters commissioned by Shell during Viscount Bearsted’s chairmanship; also Lady Bearsted’s restored Art Deco bathroom. The garden is very fine, with terraces, herbaceous borders, kitchen garden, ornamental pools and an interesting 1930s water garden, together with the National Collection of Asters.

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