Winsham Manor Hero 2

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.

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What we think

Become your very own Lord or Lady of the Manor in this delightful Elizabethan gem, with its great mix of period features and modern amenities. This new addition to the Big House Experience collections offers an elegant setting for a peaceful retreat, with beautiful views of the Somerset hills as well as easy access to the Jurassic coast.

Gareth, Big House Experience

What to Expect

Winsham Manor Gardens

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)

Location

Nestled in a corner of South Somerset, close to the Dorset and Devon borders, with far-reaching views of the rolling countryside.

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or call to book 01242 352 747