Abbotswood, Gloucestershire
Abbotswood is a
History
The ownership of lands in the manor of Lower Swell can be traced to the
In 1901 the estate was sold to Mark Fenwick, whose wealth derived from his involvement in mining and banking in
House
Abbotswood house is the principal of the estate's buildings, a 22,000 square feet (2,000 m2) Cotswold stone L-shaped house dating back to the 1867 construction. Lutyens' external work on the house is concentrated on the north-side of the south-wing, where a projecting gabled roof falling to near ground level protects the main entrance; and on the west-side of the same wing where a series of narrow gables, terrace, ponds and a Loggia were added. Within, Lutyens created a new hall, grand staircase and reception rooms.[1][4]
Externally, Lutyens added a paved terrace with a linear central lily-pond extending from the west gable of the south wing. A large formal garden, subdivided into symmetric sections by hedges, paths and terrace walls, was planted to the south of the house; a terrace immediately to the south overlooks the garden and provides views of the surrounding park. The upper section of the garden is planted as a series of squares, four in the centre and three each at the east and west. The lower garden formed a sunken tennis lawn with a herbaceous border; more recently, a lily-pond has been sited in the centre of the lawn. A hexagonal open-sided garden house is sited at the south-west of the lawn; and a summerhouse is built beneath the upper garden, looking out across the tennis lawn and with access from a path on the west side of the gardens. A 'stream garden' of lawns, shrubs and trees with water and rock features is to the west of the house and formal gardens.[1]
Estate
Abbotswood House sits towards the north-east of the estate's circa 1 square kilometre (0.39 sq mi) park, through which the River Dikler runs north-to-south. The estate's farm buildings, stables and staff housing are to the south-west of the house, and to the east of these is found an orchard and a walled garden with glasshouses, all associated with a long-demolished pre-1867 principal estate house. Features within the park include a river-fed pond, a well, and remains of a medieval moat. The park and a number of its buildings form part of the main listing for Abbotswood, and elements of the estate such as lodges, gates and walls, have distinct listings.[1][5][6][7][8][9][10]
See also
- Lower Swell War Memorial, designed by Lutyens through the agency of Mark Fenwick.
References
- ^ a b c d e f Historic England. "Abbotswood (/1000748)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ a b Elrington, C. R. (1965). "Parishes: Lower Swell". A History of the County of Gloucester. Vol. 6. London. pp. 165–172.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Arnold, Constantia. Happy as Kings: The Story of the Fenwicks at Abbotswood, 1905 to 1945 (1994), Google Books
- ^ "Lutyens houses on the Market - Abbotswood, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire". The Lutyens Trust. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ Historic England. "Lodge, Gatepiers, Gates and Entrance Quadrants to Abbotswood (/1221846)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ Historic England. "Abbotswood and Gate Piers to Stable Yard (/1221847)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ Historic England. "Garden Pavilion at south west Corner of Abbotswood Lower Terrace, Gates and Gate Piers and Walls framing Rose Garden and Lower Terrace (/1221849)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ Historic England. "Retaining Walls of Lily Pond, Flanking Garden Walls and Summerhouse, Steps and Terrace adjoining to west Of Abbotswood (/1274945)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ Historic England. "Home Farmhouse and Attached Farm Buildings (/1283028)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ Historic England. "North Lodge to Abbotswood (NOT Included), with attached Gatehouse and Wing Walls (/1283034)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 September 2016.