Court House, Painswick
The Court House is a grade I listed house in Hale Lane, Painswick, Gloucestershire, England, within the Cotswolds.
The house was built in the late 16th century with additions in 1604,[1] for Thomas Gardener on the site of an earlier manor house. The exact dates of the earlier house are not known, but the manor house of Pain fitzJohn, who gave his name to the village, stood on the site in the first half of the 12th century.[2] The demolition of the house in 1445 and subsequent rebuilding is recorded.[3] It is known that King Charles I stayed at the house during the Siege of Gloucester in 1643.[2][4] The house is still believed to be haunted by the king and his troops.[5]
The Cotswold stone limestone house has a two-storey front with a three-storey return wing supported by buttresses.[6] The name "Court House" relates to the room used as a court with cells in the cellar beneath the rest of the building which held the prisoners awaiting trial.[6] The 4 acres (1.6 ha) garden[7] is surrounded by an 18th-century wall which is 18 metres (59 ft) long and 5 metres (16 ft) high, and includes a set of 11 semicircular steps near the house.[8] Above the roof are stacks of tall chimneys.[9] A path to the parish church crosses the garden.[10]
In 1942 a major sale of the contents of the house was held.[11] The house itself was sold in the 1960s,[12] and again in 2009 as a private house. After extensive renovation the house and its later 20th century additions is now used as a hotel.[6].In 2023 the house was sold again and is now a private residence once more.
References
- ^ Baggs, A.P; Jurica, A.R.J; Sheils, W.J. "Painswick In A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 11, Bisley and Longtree Hundreds". British History Online. Victoria County History. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
- ^ a b "A History of Painswick". Painswick Parish Council. Archived from the original on 24 September 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
- ^ "The Manor History". Court House. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
- ^ "England's most famous ghost at Painswick & Chavenage". Ctswolds Info. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ "England's most famous ghost at Painswick & Chavenage". Cotswold Info. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
- ^ a b c "Court House". National Heritage List for England. Historic England.
- ^ "Court House Manor Luxury B&B". Via Michelin. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
- ^ "Retaining wall in garden adjoining and to east of Court House". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
- ^ "Painswick Tourist Information and Travel Guide Cotswolds". Cotswold Info. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
- ^ "Property of the Month: Court House Manor". Luxury Cotswold Properties. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
- ^ "The Court House, Painswick". Gloucester Citizen. 25 April 1942. Retrieved 28 August 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Painswick: Court House new houses Client: Messrs. Orchard & Peer Ltd. Private Sale..." National Archives. Retrieved 28 August 2016.