Welcome to Woodchester Mansion
A unique unfinished Victorian Gothic house hidden in a beautfiul Cotswold valley
Open 11am – 5pm every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays, from Friday 29th March to Sunday 3rd November.
For all enquiries, please email: info@woodchestermansion.org.uk
The house like no other…
Woodchester Mansion is a unique and amazing Grade I listed Victorian Gothic house hidden in a beautiful Cotswold valley.
It is an unfinished masterpiece. Building started about 1857, but stopped in the mid-1860s so floors and ceilings are missing, walls not plastered and windows unglazed. All the secrets of the construction of the Mansion are visible – something visitors will never see in another country house.
The Mansion was designed by a young local architect, Benjamin Bucknall from Rodborough. He produced a unique Gothic Revival house which blends the local traditional work in limestone with the ideas of the French architectural thinker Viollet-le-Duc.
If you are interested in the Mansion and its history we have a book.
The quality of the stone carvings in the Mansion is outstanding: some are inspired by the plants in the surrounding valley and others are life-like images of animals. There are also real mammals to be seen as the Mansion houses breeding colonies of Greater and Lesser Horseshoe bats.
Owned by Stroud District Council, the Mansion is managed by the Woodchester Mansion Trust (it is not a National Trust property). On Open Days visitors can see how the house was built, admire the fine carvings and look at the bats on CCTV. Refreshments are available, we have a gift shop and the surrounding Woodchester Park (National Trust) can be explored. It is also possible to arrange private tours and hire of the Mansion.
Latest News & Events
Things to see and do at Woodchester Mansion
Finding Us
As you can see from the picture above, the Mansion (centre) is hidden deep in a beautiful Cotswold valley.
If you’re not a local, please see the How to Find Us page so you have a smooth journey.
On open days a Minibus to the Mansion runs from NT Buckholt car park only.
Guided tours at 11:45am and 2:30pm – or self-guided.
Adult admission £11 – See Admission Prices
Volunteers needed!
Volunteering is key to the Mansion. Back in 1987 the building was saved from dereliction thanks to the enthusiasm and voluntary effort of local people. We depend on our group of 50+ volunteers to run the Mansion on public Open Days. Many of our events have volunteers on duty. If you’re interested in joining us in 2024 please email info@woodchestermansion.org.uk and we’ll be in touch.
Stone Days
Come to the Mansion and learn the ancient craft of stone carving under the supervision of our Master Mason, and take home your own masterpiece. We hold one-day starter courses approx. monthly throughout the year. Dates already fixed for 2024 are: 23rd Mar, 27th Apr, 25th May and 8th June. A great new experience – and an ideal present.
Membership
Our members are wonderful backers of the Woodchester Mansion Trust. If you become a member you will gain free admission to the Mansion on Open Days, access to exclusive events, a regular newsletter and a discount on shop goods. Plus the feel-good factor of supporting a worthwhile local charity. We have a current offer, join now and your membership lasts until 1st Jan 2025.
Private Tours
Do you belong to a local organisation? We run private tours of the Mansion for groups of at least 12 people. You’ll be collected from the car park, have your own tour guide and the Mansion to yourself. Tea, coffee and home-made cake are also available. Now’s the time to make arrangements for Spring/Summer 2024….
Lucky Severn Lottery
This local lottery provides a boost to Mansion funds. It’s especially valuable to us during the winter months when the Mansion is closed to the public. The lottery can boost your funds too, as one of our supporters found when they won a £250 prize. Please support us and subscribe – you may be lucky too!
Mansion Café
We have NEW caterers this year
Good coffee, snacks, light lunches, teas and truly DELICIOUS cakes
Available 11am – 4:30pm on Mansion open days
We’re supported by
Grants
We are delighted to have been awarded a grant of £22,500 from the Charles Skey Charitable Trust. The grant is for improvements to the main entrance. Work is now almost finished. The floor has been levelled-up, an imposing new door fitted and a ramp which makes wheelchair access much easier is in place. The ramp just needs a few finishing touches. Internally new customised shop fittings have been installed. We need to get the stock in and expect all to be ready for the beginning of the open season on Good Friday.