I visited Great Chalfield Manor at the end of April on a pleasant and sunny day soon after museums were allowed to reopen again. (Since the full property was not completely reopen to the public during my visit, I have named this to be a lockdown edition since the experiences during this time will not be the same as a normal one and we are adhering to several ongoing impacts.) Great Chalfield Manor is a property that I enjoyed, and with the stunning views highlighted in my photographs below, I think that it is easy for others to appreciate its beauty.
Great Chalfield Manor and Gardens belongs to the National Trust. The manor house dates from the mid-1400s where it was built from clothier's fortunes. Unfortunately, photography inside the house was not permitted, and the only area open to visitors currently was the great hall. The house tours are guided tours only without ability to explore alone. The Great Chalfield Manor location also contains a parish church next door, and this was rebuilt at the same time as the manor house. The house was originally completely surrounded by a moat, but only parts of the moat exist today at the front and at the back of the property.
The period in which the house was built was the English Civil War, and the builder designed three secret windows overlooking various aspects of the Great Hall. These are disguised with masks; I believe that one was a donkey and one was a jester wearing a crown as a bit of satire of the times. The owner of the house could have easily overheard conversations of a sensitive nature at challenging social and political times.
Also in the Great Hall is the land owner's Cartuary, which is a medieval record for a landowner regarding the ownership and use of their land. It is a rare type of document to own and important to the history of the property.
The house was passed down through families and was altered in the 1830s. It was eventually used as a farmhouse, but it was purchased in the early 1900s by George Fuller MP and restored with a new garden design. The descendants live on site and manage the property for the National Trust, who they gifted Great Chalfield to in 1943.
All Saints Church is the name of the church next to the house. It dates from the 14th century and was rebuilt at the same time as the manor house. The church was first mentioned in the early 1300s. I went inside to take a look.
The gardens contain a group of four yew trees that have grown together and hollowed out to make a small area to walk through.
Great Chalfield Manor has been used as a filming location for several films, including The Other Boleyn Girl, Wolf Hall, and Poldark.
Great Chalfield Manor and Gardens are only open on certain days of the week, which is possibly due to the current restrictions. I found it to be a pleasant visit with nice views and a colourful garden.
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