Chastleton House: National Trust Guidebook

by Kathryn Ferry, National Trust

A rare gem of a Jacobean country house, Chastleton House was built between 1607 and 1612 by a prosperous wool merchant as an impressive statement of wealth and power. Owned by the same increasingly impoverished family until 1991, the house remained essentially unchanged for nearly 400 years as the interiors and contents gradually succumbed to the ravages of time. With virtually no intrusion from the 21st century, this fascinating place exudes an informal and timeless atmosphere in a gloriously unspoilt setting.

48 pages, Paperback

First published April 9, 2013

Reviews

[David Jacobson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good guidebook to accompany a visit to Chastleton House, a manor house of the well-to-do (but never quite as well-to-do as they would have liked) of the early 17th Century that was passed down through the same family until 1993 and is now open for tours. It begins with a history of the family that built the house, then gives a room by room tour of the house and gardens in text and numerous photographs. It is a good format for a book like this, since it allows one who has visited the house to relive that tour after coming home.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful house to visit. The National Trust has made the right decision to preserve rather than restore. The guidebook is a very clear and well illustrated summary of the house and its history.