Corsham Court
Former Royal Manor
and home of the Methuen Family since 1745
Find out about..........
Early History of Corsham Court
A Very Brief History!
Corsham was a Royal Manor in the days of the Saxon Kings, and after William the Conqueror had taken possession, following the invasion of 1066, the Manor continued to be passed down through the generations of the Royal families.
It frequently formed part of the dower of the Queens of England during the late 14th and early 15th centuries, so much so that it became known as Corsham Reginae.
During the 16th century the Manor went to two of Henry VIII's wives, Catherine of Aragon until 1536 and Katherine Parr until 1548.
During the reign of Elizabeth I the Estate passed out of the Royal Family and through various hands until 1766 when Paul Methuen gained possession.
The Estate has remained in the hands of the Methuen family from 1745 to the present day.
The House & Gardens
Corsham Court is based on an Elizabethan house dating from 1582 and this and the gardens have an interesting history and are well worth a visit.
It was originally bought by Paul Methuen in the mid-eighteenth century to house a collection of 16th and 17th century Italian and Flemish masters. During the middle of the 19th century the house was altered to house a second collection of Italian masters, some rare sculptures and furniture.
The house and grounds are principally the work of "Capability" Brown, John Nash and Thomas Bellamy. "Capability" Brown, although associated in most people's minds with great landscape projects, was a very capable architect and it was he who set the style of the present day building by retaining the Elizabethan stables, the Riding School and the great gabled front to the House. He doubled this into the gabled wings at either end of the House, creating the Picture Gallery and State Rooms in the east wing.
Inside there is an outstanding collection of over 140 paintings, statues, bronzes and furniture. There are works by such names as Adams, Chippendale, Caravaggio, Lippi, Reynolds, Rubens, Van Dyck and there is the "The Sleeping Cupid" by Michelangelo, dating from 1496.
The Rose Garden
The gardens are probably the best kept secret of Corsham Court. The formal sections are hidden away around the back of the house, but are well worth the effort to find. The layout of grounds and gardens were also the work of "Capability" Brown who planned to include a 13 acre lake, but this was not completed until some 40 years later by Humphrey Repton. There is an unusual Gothic Bath House here, which is also the work of Brown and it has become partially covered by the surrounding trees over the years. If you find it, be careful of the wooden staircase to the little room at the top, as the supports are giving way!
The opening hours for 1998 (and for this year as far as I know!) :
| Opening | Closing | Last Entry | ||
| Daily from 1st January to 30th November | 2.00pm | 4.30pm | 4.00pm | Except Mondays & Fridays. Closed during December |
| From Good Friday to 30th September | 2.00pm | 6.00pm | 5.30pm | Including Fridays and Bank Holidays |
Group rates of £3.50 per person are available for parties of 15 or more, by appointment on Corsham (01249) 701610 or 701611
| Admission | Adult | Child | OAP |
| House & Gardens | £4.50 | £2.50 | £3.50 |
| Gardens Only | £2.00 | £1.00 | £1.50 |
Considering how much there is to see, then I think that this is something of a
bargain!
Copyright © 1996/9 by
Hugh Collins
This Page Last Updated
16 November 1999