Barrington Court

Barrington Court
LocationBarrington, Somerset, England
Coordinates50°57′40″N 2°51′31″W / 50.96111°N 2.85861°W / 50.96111; -2.85861
Built1550s
Architectural style(s)Tudor
OwnerNational Trust
Listed Building – Grade I
Official nameBarrington Court
Designated17 April 1959[1]
Reference no.1345920
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official nameWing to Barrington Court
Designated17 April 1959[2]
Reference no.1056932
Official nameBarrington Court
TypeGrade II*
Designated20 September 1988[3]
Reference no.1000505
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameGateway to west of forecourt area
Designated20 September 1988[4]
Reference no.1056934
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameMotor House
Designated20 September 1988[5]
Reference no.1264739
Barrington Court is located in Somerset
Barrington Court
Location of Barrington Court in Somerset

Barrington Court is a Tudor manor house begun around 1538 and completed in the late 1550s, with a vernacular stable court (1675), situated in Barrington, near Ilminster, Somerset, England.

The house was owned by several families by 1745 after which it fell into disrepair and was used as a tenant farm. After repair by architect Alfred Hoare Powell (1865–1960), it was acquired by the National Trust in 1907, on the recommendation of the antiquarian Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley (1851–1920).[6] It has been described as the first house acquired by the National Trust, although Alfriston Clergy House, a more modest property, was acquired earlier. In the 1920s the house was renovated after Colonel Lyle and his wife 'Ronnie' agreed to take on a ninety-nine year repairing lease from the Trust, and work began in 1921.[7] The stable block turned into a residence and several outbuildings, gardens and gateways were constructed.

The house was originally surrounded by a medieval deer park and in the 17th century a formal garden was constructed. This had largely disappeared until a new garden was laid out by garden designer Gertrude Jekyll (1843–1932) in an Arts and Crafts-style. It now contains walled kitchen gardens, fruit orchards and ornamental gardens.

  1. ^ Historic England. "Barrington Court (1345920)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  2. ^ Historic England. "Wing to Barrington Court (1056932)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  3. ^ Historic England. "Barrington Court Gardens (1000505)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  4. ^ Historic England. "Gateway to west of forecourt area of Barrington Court (1056934)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  5. ^ Historic England. "Motor House with flanking ranges north east of Barrington Court (1264739)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference sher was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Craftsmanship exemplified".