This story of the Cornwallis-West family has as its basis the two stately homes:
The ancient castle of Ruthin in North Wales and Newlands Manor at Milford in Hampshire, homes respectively of the De La Warr (West) family and Admiral Sir William Cornwallis.

The lives of the members of the family are a microcosm of the changes experienced world-wide over the last couple of centuries and their individual stories reflect their social situation of the time: from their prominence in the upper reaches of the aristocracy and royal circles, to being at the heart of the lively social scene in Edwardian England with one or  two family members allegedly being lovers of the Prince of Wales, through to the turbulent 20 th century with wars and revolutions affecting their lives and a consequential decline in their position, prestige and finance.          

‘The Wild West Show' was the name given to the family by Edward Prince of Wales, because of their exuberant way of life, particularly when they lived at Newlands, led by the ebullient Patsy and replicated by her children George, Daisy and Shelagh.