Background
Cook was born in Camberwell, London and educated at Mill Hill School, as were his two brothers Frank and Thomas.
Cook was born in Camberwell, London and educated at Mill Hill School, as were his two brothers Frank and Thomas.
He entered the family travel business, and developed its banking operations. Following the sale Cook retired to Bath, and devoted himself to his art collection and the acquisition of country estates. He accumulated a large collection of fine and decorative art, which on his death became the largest bequest ever left to the National Arts Collection Fund.
In 1931 he acquired Montacute House in Somerset and the Bath Assembly Rooms for the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.
He became a major benefactor of the National Trust, and encouraged the Trust to acquire historic country houses and estates. Montacute House and the Assembly Rooms were transferred to the National Trust.
Cook acquired a total of seventeen estates, of which Bradenham, Buscot and Coleshill passed to the National Trust. In 1952 Cook founded the Ernest Cook Trust, and transferred seven estates to lieutenant
