Acton Court
After a programme of painstaking conservation work, largely funded
by English Heritage, the East and North ranges of Acton Court can now be viewed. The many ‘finds’ discovered during the archaeological
excavations are held at Bristol City Museum.
Acton Court is believed to be the most ‘original’ Tudor house in Britain. In order to maintain the integrity of the building, as far as possible, it has been left in its original state. The empty house has a mysterious beauty that we have tried to preserve. Due to the fragile nature of the construction, only small, escorted groups can view the rooms at any one time. The house is a Grade I Listed Building and both house and grounds are Scheduled Ancient Monuments, which ensures that no digging or building can take place without permission and that the site is preserved for future generations to enjoy
Acton Court
Latteridge Road
Iron Acton
Bristol
BS37 9TL
Woodchester Mansion
A 19th Century Victorian Gothic Masterpiece mysteriously abandoned mid-construction in 1873. Hidden in a secluded Cotswold valley, it is untouched by time and the modern world. This Grade 1 Listed Building has been saved from dereliction, but will never be completed.
Visitors walk through an extraordinary architectural exhibit in which the secrets of the medieval Gothic builders and masons are laid bare. The carvings in Woodchester Mansion are among the finest of their kind in the world.
Woodchester Mansion Trust was founded to protect and to preserve this unique building for future generations and has pioneered a unique on-site masonry and traditional building skills training programme that is now being emulated across the UK.
Woodchester Manor
Nympsfield
Stonehouse
Gloucestershire
GL10 3TS
Dyrham House & Park
Spectacular late 17th-century mansion, garden and deer park
Explore 270 acres (110 hectares) of ancient parkland, where a historic herd of fallow deer roams freely and magnificent trees and breathtaking views abound.
Inside the impressive mansion, built by hard-working civil servant William Blathwayt, discover fascinating interiors little changed in 300 years, as well as a rich collection that includes superb Dutch art and ceramics of the period.
Young explorers can run free in the Old Lodge picnic and play area, take part in a nature trail and tick off challenges on their 50 things list including pond-dipping and bug-hunting.
Complete your visit with a relaxing stroll in the elegant West Garden with its splendid borders, idyllic ponds and wildflower orchard.
Dyrham House & Park
Durham
Nr Bath
SN14 8ER
Rodmarton Manor
A supreme example of a house built and all its furniture made according to Arts and Crafts ideals and was one of the last country houses to be built and furnished in the old traditional style when everything was done by hand with local stone, local timber and local craftsmen. Cotswold Arts and Crafts building and furniture Ernest Barnsley and the Cotswold group of Craftsmen, who built and furnished the house for Claud and Margaret Biddulph, beginning in 1909, were responsible for the revival of many traditional crafts in the Cotswolds which were in danger of dying out. Over the 20 years that it took to build the house many people were involved in building, woodwork, metalwork, needlework, painting, gardening, all done to a very high standard. Most of the furniture was made specially for the house, either in the Rodmarton workshops, or made by Sidney Barnsley, Edward Barnsley or Peter Waals. Some furniture was bought after the house was built but all pieces are directly or indirectly attributable to the original craftsmen or people who had connections with them such as Harry Davoll, Owen Scrubey, Oliver Morel. There is furniture and pottery painted by Alfred and Louise Powell, applique wall hangings designed by Hilda Benjamin (Sexton), leadwork and brass designed by Norman Jewson, and ironwork by Fred and Frank Baldwin and Alfred Bucknell. Rodmarton Manor’s Cotswold gardens One of the finest Gloucestershire gardens on the edge of the Cotswolds – spectacular throughout the summer. Rodmarton Manor Cirencester Gloucestershire GL7 6PF
Newark Park stands proud on top of the Cotswold escarpment, looking down into the Ozleworth valley and to the Mendips beyond. The Newark estate is situated in an unspoilt corner of Gloucestershire, with barely a sign of modern life visible in any direction. A place of architectural intrigue, quaint gardens and sprawling parkland there is much to see and do at Newark.
Wotton-under-Edge
Lacock Abbey
A Country house with monastic roots, once home to William Henry Fox Talbot
Set in rural Wiltshire, Lacock village is famous for its picturesque streets, historic buildings and more recently as a TV and film location.
The Abbey, located at the heart of the village within its own woodland grounds, is a quirky country house of various architectural styles, built upon the foundations of a former nunnery. Visitors can experience the atmosphere of the medieval rooms and cloister court, giving a sense of the Abbey’s monastic past.
The museum celebrates the achievements of former Lacock resident, William Henry Fox Talbot, famous for his contributions to the invention of photography.
On a day out in Lacock there is plenty for you to see and do. It’s the perfect place to spend a whole day.
On your visit you can discover the history of the Abbey and newly opened rooms, take a walk in the grounds and enjoy spring bulbs, summer borders and the greenhouse.
Wander through the historic village with many great shops and places to have a meal, and don’t miss the wonderful changing exhibitions in the upper gallery of the Fox Talbot Museum.
There is also a beautiful holiday cottage, so why not stay, experience Lacock life and explore the area?
Lacock
Wiltshire
SN15 2LG
Dr Jenner’s House Berkeley
Dr Edward Jenner (1749-1823) was born in Berkeley, Gloucestershire. Jenner had an inquisitive, brilliant mind and excelled in medicine and despite training in London returned to live in Berkeley where he pioneered his most famous work – vaccination. Edward Jenner is one of the most important people in the history of world medicine.
Dr Edward Jenner pioneered vaccination (against smallpox) at this house and it is said his work has saved more lives than any other man who has ever lived. Jenner’s development of the first-ever Vaccine eventually led to the eradication of smallpox in 1980 and the development of the Science of Immunology.
The Chantry
Church Lane
Berkeley
GL13 9BN