The house was originally a stone manor dating back to the 13th century, long before the 17th-century updates.
Sir Kenelm Digby, an alchemist, privateer, and diplomat, spent part of his childhood living at this manor.
The interior contains a notable collection of rare Jacobean oak furniture and period-accurate soft furnishings.
The gardens are laid out in a 'knot' design, a style popular during the early 17th century for its intricate geometric patterns.
The property transitioned from a family home to a farmhouse, which helped preserve many of its original structural features through the centuries.
The 1620s House & Garden is a rare survival of a 13th-century stone manor house extensively renovated during the early 17th century. The site offers a visceral look at Jacobean domestic life through authentic period furniture and interior layouts. It is historically linked to the Digby family, including Sir Kenelm Digby, a prominent figure in the Gunpowder Plot investigations. The surrounding gardens are designed to reflect the horticultural practices and plant varieties available in the 1620s. Visitors can explore the preserved great hall, buttery, and solar, which retain original timber-framing and stone masonry. The site functions as a living museum, often utilizing historical reenactments to demonstrate daily chores and textile production from the era. Its architecture serves as a primary source for understanding how English gentry lived during the transition from the Elizabethan to the Caroline periods.
The geometric knot garden provides the best backdrop for capturing the house's exterior stone masonry.
Bring a light waterproof layer as the garden paths can be damp and the historical building is drafty.
Check the official calendar in advance, as the site frequently hosts specialized historical reenactment days that alter the visitor experience.
Wear comfortable, flat shoes to navigate the historic uneven stone floors and gravel garden paths.
Do not expect a typical 'stately home' tour; this is a more intimate, smaller-scale manor experience focused on authentic 17th-century domesticity.
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays; typically seasonal, often operating from spring through autumn.
Avoid touching the historic timber surfaces or delicate period fabrics; follow signage regarding photography in sensitive rooms.
