A visit which keeps on revealing. You will leave understanding an unexpected tapestry of wool, wars, Huguenots and a ghost or two.

The interiors feature fine furniture and memorable art

Built around 1618, this Grade II* clothier’s mansion was modernised by the Georgians c.1735 and the Victorians c.1860. A Palladian frontage and stone mullioned rear windows are two of the external features which enclose finely proportioned rooms, original fireplaces and a magnificent heavily-carved Jacobean openwork scroll oak staircase which winds through all three of its floors.

Jacobean staircase

Originally built as both a family home and the visible expression of the wealth of a branch of the Strode dynasty, which owned the late medieval sheep farm after which the locality is named, the house saw a tempestuous history in the Civil Wars, during the 18th and 19th centuries and when occupied by the Navy in the second world war. Today, the house is very much a family home, having been lovingly renovated by the Keys family, and has been featured in both Period House and Period Living magazines as well as on BBC Radio Somerset.

Owner-narrated tour of the exterior: five moderate-sized gardens, (each with its own challenges including a large ruin); workers’ homes; former industrial buildings and other remains in the hamlet; and interior: lots of original features, fine furniture and memorable art, as well as a thoroughly-researched architectural, locality and occupant history.

Tour includes a cream tea.

Special restrictions: no dogs

Greeted or guided by the owner
No dogs

What our visitors say:

…a fabulous tour of your stunning house and gardens…and very scrummy cakes.Everyone was fascinated by the house and interested in the furniture and art works…a very enjoyable, rather special, afternoon...the highlight of our trip to the area…interesting talk and superb cream tea…a memorable experience.We particularly liked your stories. They brought the tour to life.…a wonderful trip round your amazing house, outbuildings and Bowlish hamlet.The tour was brilliant in every respect. What a truly wonderful place and such informative and enthusiastic guides. A most enjoyable afternoon.People were fascinated by the house, your commitment to it and its place in the history of the area.It was generally agreed that your house and style of tour will be looked back upon with much warmth and pleasure by the members of Seend Historic Houses Club. As a group we have seen many houses, both great and small, since the club started about 25 years ago, occasionally we find a gem. Usually they are houses which are also homes and it’s the personal and obvious love for the history and fabric which come through from you, as stewards, which tantalise us. It's a shame the rain was relentless which prevented us from enjoying the gardens. However, this was certainly mitigated by the sumptuous tea you provided!