Woodchester Mansion

Woodchester Mansion is a neo-Gothic masterpiece of Victorian craftsmanship which was left untouched by the modern world until it was "re-discovered" some years ago after a somewhat unhappy history of being unwanted and being to expensive to complete.

The mansion was designed by the architect Benjamin Bucknall who had also designed other houses, chapels and churches in the valleys of his native Swansea and South Wales. Woodchester was commissioned by the wealthy Catholic William Leigh to accommodate the family, servants and visitor's, and is constructed almost entirely with the golden limestone of the Cotswolds. William Leigh passed away in 1873 and the estate went to his son, also William Leigh who really didn't have the will-power or the finances to finish the house. The estate remained with the Leigh family until the 1930's when it was bought by the Barnwood Trust, a charity dating back to the 18th century and working for the treatment of people with mental disabilities, but because of the Second World War, their plans to turn the building into a special hospital for the care of people with mental disorders was shelved.

The building is owned by Stroud District Council who lease the building into the safe hands of The Woodchester Mansion Trust, a conservation charity founded in 1989 by a group of local people along with the support of the local community and English Heritage. The future of Woodchester Mansion is reliant on the Trust who's mission statement is to "combine historic building conservation, education and public access by repairing but not completing the Mansion" so that it will remain an "unfinished masterpiece" forever.

Today a new generation of craftsmen are learning the secrets and skills of the Victorian builders as the Woodchester Trust use the building for the training of new craftsmen learning the trades required to conserve our English heritage. Woodchester Mansion is also regarded as one of the most haunted houses in Britain and regular visits are undertaken by those interested in the paranormal.

Facilities include a tea room, gift shop and toilets. Visitor's with disabilities are welcomed but wheelchair access around the Mansion is limited to the ground floor only, although some of the floors are uneven, access is possible to all the rooms on the ground floor with reasonable care.

Tours of the house are conducted by volunteer guides from the Woodchester Mansion Trust.

A free car park and a mini-bus service is usually available to transport visitor's to the house.

Woodchester Park is owned by The National Trust and is open to all.

Visitor Information

Please visit the Woodchester Mansion website for current opening times and admission charges.