Barrington Court

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.

Barrington Court
LocationBarrington, Somerset, England
Coordinates50°57′40″N 2°51′31″W
Built1550s
Architectural style(s)Tudor
OwnerNational Trust
Listed Building – Grade I
Official nameBarrington Court
Designated17 April 1959
Reference no.1345920
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official nameWing to Barrington Court
Designated17 April 1959
Reference no.1056932
National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens
Official nameBarrington Court
TypeGrade II*
Designated20 September 1988
Reference no.1000505
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameGateway to west of forecourt area
Designated20 September 1988
Reference no.1056934
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameMotor House
Designated20 September 1988
Reference no.1264739
Location of Barrington Court in Somerset

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). 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. 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.

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