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 | |
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Location | Barrington, Somerset, England |
Coordinates | 50°57′40″N 2°51′31″W |
Built | 1550s |
Architectural style(s) | Tudor |
Owner | National Trust |
Listed Building – Grade I | |
Official name | Barrington Court |
Designated | 17 April 1959 |
Reference no. | 1345920 |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
Official name | Wing to Barrington Court |
Designated | 17 April 1959 |
Reference no. | 1056932 |
National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens | |
Official name | Barrington Court |
Type | Grade II* |
Designated | 20 September 1988 |
Reference no. | 1000505 |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
Official name | Gateway to west of forecourt area |
Designated | 20 September 1988 |
Reference no. | 1056934 |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
Official name | Motor House |
Designated | 20 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.