Chastleton House

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, meaning 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. There is no shop or tea-room, so you can truly believe you have stepped back in time.

Don't miss: rooms full of rare objects without ropes or barriers; the garden, with Jacobean topiary and a vegetable plot; a kitchen ceiling last cleaned in 1612!

Chastleton House was used as a film location in the BBC TV series of Wolf Hall.

Free family Explorer packs; seasonal concerts; garden party; family events during school holidays; private views each Wednesday and themed events on last Saturday of each month during open season.

Dogs: allowed on leads in the field opposite the house.

Admission is by timed entry and tickets are sold on a first- come, first-served basis. Visitor numbers are limited to conserve the fragile nature of the house. Please note that at busy times entry cannot be guaranteed. The ticket office opens at 12.30pm. Last admission to the house is 1hr before closing.

Chastleton House is open every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 1pm - 5pm with last admission one hour before closing.