in 1869, baron james saumarez (1843–1937), grandson of admiral james saumarez, 1st baron de saumarez, who had acquired the property through his marriage in 1788 with martha le marchant, exercised his "droit de retraite" (right of redemption) to buy saumarez park and the nearby le guet estate, after his father had put the property up for sale. a diplomat who travelled widely in his career, he created a set of exotic gardens, which included a bamboo walk, a japanese garden, a camelia lawn, a rose garden and a walled garden. after his death saumarez park was acquired by the states of guernsey.