Location
Nestled in a corner of South Somerset, close to the Dorset and Devon borders, with far-reaching views of the rolling countryside.
Winsham Manor The South West
An English rose in the garden of Somerset
Close the studded oak front door behind you at Winsham Manor and allow yourself a moment to savour the scent of ancient polished wood, the glow of sunlight though mullion windows and the timeworn patina of the stone floors.
History speaks in every room of this magnificent Elizabethan manor. Original oak-panelled walls, immense stone fireplaces and stucco ceilings are matched with beautiful antiques and rich tapestry rugs. Fast forward 400 years for Wi-Fi, Netflix and the well-equipped kitchen, with Quooker tap, Smeg ovens and DeLonghi espresso machine and bean grinder.
With no fewer than five reception rooms, including the dining room, there’s always somewhere to play your music, gather for drinks, or escape to write your novel. You’ll be following in the footsteps of Jane Austen, who reportedly visited Winsham Manor and possibly even mentions it as the ‘red house’ in her novel, Persuasion. She would have felt perfectly comfortable in one of the eight restful bedrooms across three floors, with a choice of four-posters, super-king size beds and sleigh beds. Contemporary marble bathrooms with designer baths or modern rainfall showers drawing from natural spring water add to an overall sense of wellbeing.
Outside, the gardens are worthy of the manor. Fruit trees, a trio of ancient yews and a 600-year-old mulberry tree are among the highlights. Lily ponds edge the croquet lawn, and the repurposed grass tennis court is perfect for your morning yoga or an afternoon ball game. This area, which also has a trampoline and hot tub, is overlooked by the fabulous 1920s Lutyens style summer house where you can soak up the sun over a glass of Pimm’s or play table tennis. Follow the rose walk and discover more secluded areas to sit and enjoy the Somerset views, soaking up the perfumed scents. With five private acres in all, this is a secret garden which, as night falls, offers amazing and unpolluted views of the stars above.
Winsham Manor is surrounded by rolling Somerset hills, picture-perfect villages and, just 11 miles away, the Jurassic Coast. The location is also foodie heaven. Local restaurants include The Lord Poulett Arms at Hinton St. George and The Oyster & Fish House by Mark Hix at Lyme Regis. It’s also worth the one hour drive to Bruton for the Michelin starred Osip. With a private beach hut at Lyme Regis included in your booking, this is the perfect retreat for a family or friends break.
Selected by Gareth
Learn more about our handpicking processfrom £5,800
for a weekend break
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Restrictions
No fireworks
Sorry, no pets
No stag parties
Sleeps 22Sleeps 22 where at least 6 guests are children, owing to the size of some beds. See full list of bedrooms below.
Bedrooms 8Scroll for a link to the full list of rooms in the property.
Bathrooms 9Scroll for a link to the full list of rooms in the property.
Dining Capacity 16Extra chairs available.
Hot Tub
Games Room
Child Friendly
Near the Sea
Open Fire
Wifi
Ground Floor Bedroom
What we think
What to Expect
We’ve tried to think about everything to make your stay at Winsham Manor just perfect. In all of our country houses to rent, we provide all the essential features to cater for a large group. Here’s a list of all the practical provisions we have at the house. If there’s anything you can’t see here but need, just ask as we’ll see what we can do.
- Welcome hamper on arrival
- Luxury Egyptian cotton bed linen, bathrobes, bath and hand towels
- Well-equipped kitchen including Smeg 5-burner hob and duo thermo-electric ovens, Quooker boiling water tap, DeLonghi espresso machine, natural spring water on tap and more
- Dining tables in the Dining Room (seats 16 guests - 7 additional chairs available) and Winter Parlour (seats 8-10 guests)
- Free Wi-Fi
- Stereo speaker system (including Apple plug for external mobile devices) in the Great Hall
- 38” Smart TV (with Amazon Prime, Netflix and Now TV), DVD player, Nintendo Wii and board games in the Winter Parlour
- 55” Smart TV (with Amazon Prime, Netflix and Now TV) in the Great Chamber
- Open fires in the Great Hall, Great Chamber, Winter Parlour and Dining Room (firewood provided)
- 1920s Lutyens style stone-built summer house (with lighting and electricity) with table tennis and table football
- Badminton equipment, volleyball, netball stand and hoop, giant Jenga, rounders and boules sets
- Wood-fired hot tub (seats 8)
- Large open 4m trampoline
- Croquet lawn (croquet set provided)
- Outdoor table and chairs seating 22 guests
- Charcoal/wood-fired Weber BBQ and gas BBQ (fuel provided)
- Fire pit (wood provided)
- Private beach hut for guests’ use in Lyme Regis (11 miles away)
House FAQs
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What are the check in and check out times?
Check in is at 4pm on the day of your arrival and check out is at 10am.
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How many cars can park at the property?
There is parking for 12 cars on the gravelled front courtyard.
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Are stag and hen parties allowed?
Stag parties are not permitted at this property. Respectful hen parties are sometimes permitted, but only with express permission from the property owner prior to booking. Please contact us to discuss.
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Are children welcome?
Children are very welcome at Winsham Manor. One travel cot and one highchair are available on request (please bring your own cot linen). Please note, parents should supervise children at all times due to several unfenced ponds in the grounds.
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Are pets allowed?
Sorry, pet are not allowed at Winsham Manor.
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Can I arrange a supermarket delivery to the house?
Yes, you can order online with Waitrose, Tesco or Sainsbury’s for a delivery direct to the house. We usually suggest booking a delivery for after 4pm on the day of arrival and it's advisable to book a slot as early as possible.
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How many guests can sit at the dining table?
The dining room table seats up to 16 guests comfortably (7 additional chairs are available). There is also a smaller dining table in the winter parlour that can seat 8-10 guests.
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Can you recommend any local places to eat out?
Yes, we'd recommend the following pubs and restaurants, all within 30 minutes' drive of the property (click on the links below):
Pubs
The Three Horseshoes (Burton Bradstock)
Barrington Boar (Barrington)
The Cotley Inn (Wambrook / Chard)
Candlelight Inn (Bishopswood)
Devonshire Arms (Long Sutton)
The Cobb Arms (Lyme Regis)
Harbour Inn (Lyme Regis)
The Volunteer (Lyme Regis)
Restaurants
Holm (South Petherton)
The Lord Poulett Arms (Hinton St George)
Tytherleigh Arms (Tytherleigh)
The Oyster & Fish House by Mark Hix (Lyme Regis)
Robin Wylde (Lyme Regis)
Lilac (Lyme Regis)
Brassica (Beaminster)
The Ollerod (Beaminster)
Hive Beach Café (Burton Bradstock) - casual seafood directly at the beach
Seaside Boarding House (Burton Bradstock) - sea views, upmarket
28 Market Place (Somerton) - top-shelf
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Are there any neighbouring properties?
Please be advised that the east wing of the manor is occupied by other residents (on the right-hand side of the E shaped manor as you look from the front). This wing is completely self-contained and has its own private access, gardens and parking and does not share any facilities with Winsham Manor. The courtyard, gardens and grounds which wrap around the manor in a C shape belong to Winsham Manor and are solely for guests’ use. Please call us for further details.
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What is the nearest train station?
The nearest train stations are Crewkerne (8 miles) with direct trains to London Waterloo/Exeter, or Axminster (8 miles) with direct trains to London Waterloo/Exeter/the West Country. Castle Cary (24 miles away) has direct trains to London Paddington.
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What is the nearest airport?
The nearest airports are Exeter (29 miles) or Bristol (53 miles), or further afield Heathrow (126 miles).
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Will you hold a damage deposit during our stay?
Yes, we ask to hold a cautionary deposit of £1,000 during your stay at Winsham Manor. This is requested just two weeks prior to your stay, and is returned shortly after, assuming no damage to the property or its contents (see our Booking T&Cs for more information).
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How do I book?
You can check availability and pricing and place your booking request online, or by calling our team on 01242 352 747.
When booking, we ask for a deposit of 33% of the total price, with the balance due 12 weeks prior to your stay (or the full balance when booking within 12 weeks of your stay).
