The Acland family held the estate for nearly 400 years before gifting it to the National Trust.
The property contains a Grade II listed 16th-century chapel that functioned as the local parish church for the village of Budlake.
John Veitch, a renowned nurseryman, was hired by the Aclands to plant exotic tree species that still thrive in the arboretum today.
The estate's fashion collection was originally housed in the house's attic and was only formally cataloged in the 1970s.
Killerton served as a significant site for the development of modern botanical science in Devon through the Veitch Nurseries connection.
During World War II, the house was used as a maternity home for women evacuated from London.
The parkland includes a hidden 'Ice House' used by the estate in the 18th century to store perishables.
The site hosts a unique 'Cider Mill' that still functions during seasonal harvest demonstrations.
Ashclyst Forest, part of the estate, is one of the largest remaining fragments of ancient woodland in East Devon.
Killerton is an 18th-century National Trust estate featuring a Georgian house, extensive parkland, and a historic fashion collection. The site houses the Paulise de Bush collection, which includes over 20,000 items of historic dress and accessories dating from the 18th century to the 1990s. The gardens were designed by John Veitch and contain rare trees and rhododendrons from the family's plant-hunting expeditions. The estate includes the 16th-century chapel at Budlake and the hillside ruins of the 14th-century Dolbury Hillfort. Visitors can access over 6,400 acres of parkland and forest, including the Cullompton Hill Fort and Ashclyst Forest. The house displays portraits of the Acland family, who donated the property to the National Trust in 1944. An accessible route through the garden allows visitors to view the arboretum's notable species. The estate grounds are known for the bear's hut, an 18th-century summer house constructed from wood and thatch.
The elevated view of the house looking back across the manicured lawn and garden landscape.
Wear sturdy walking shoes to explore the extensive woodland trails and uneven garden paths.
Check the National Trust website before arrival for rotating fashion exhibition themes within the house.
Bring binoculars if planning to visit Ashclyst Forest, as it is a prime location for spotting butterflies and woodland birds.
Attempting to cover the entire 6,000-acre estate in a single visit without planning specific trails.
The house may operate on seasonal rotations, with exhibitions changing periodically; the parkland remains open throughout the year.
Maintain pathways in the gardens to protect rare plants and keep dogs on leads in livestock-grazing areas.
