Barrington Court

Barrington Court is a Tudor manor house near Ilminster in Somerset, begun around 1538 and completed in the late 1550s. The estate has medieval origins, with evidence of an earlier house and deer park. Much of the present Tudor building is associated with the Clifton family, who acquired the property in the 16th century. It later passed through several families before becoming neglected and being used as a tenant farm. After restoration work led by architect Alfred Hoare Powell, Barrington Court was acquired by the National Trust in 1907. In the 1920s, Colonel Abram Lyle and his wife Ronnie undertook major restoration and improvements, including converting the former stable block into a residence and developing the gardens.

Today, Barrington Court is an important example of Tudor architecture and is managed by the National Trust. The house has a distinctive E-shaped plan, decorative gables, projecting wings, and a long gallery, while the nearby Strode House was converted from the 17th-century stable block. The estate is particularly known for its Arts and Crafts gardens, designed with planting plans by Gertrude Jekyll, including formal rose, iris, lily, and white gardens. Visitors can also explore the walled kitchen garden, orchards, historic buildings, and unusual multi-faced sundial. The property remains an important example of the preservation and adaptation of an historic English country estate.

Address
Barrington, United Kingdom

Established
1538