Lewtrenchard Manor 

Hidden away in a wooded hollow just beneath the wild tors of Dartmoor, Lewtrenchard is a house virtually untouched by time. The original manor was mentioned in the Domesday Book, but today’s impressive Jacobean dwelling, set in its own shrub filled gardens and surrounded by peaceful parkland, dates from the early 1600’s.
Over the years it was home to a series of colourful characters; James Gould, one the earliest adventurers to trade on the Chinese mainland, Edward Gould the compulsive gambler and suspected murderer, and the Reverend Sabine Baring Gould, celebrated hymn writer and novelist who composed “Onward Christian Soldiers” at the desk that still stands in the Library.

This house, steeped in history, is large enough to be imposing, yet not so grand as to be unwelcoming. Stepping over the ancient slate floor in the impressive hallway one immediately feels very much at home.

Each of the historic bedrooms has its own unique character, whether it be burnished oak panelling, exquisite ornamental plasterwork, rich fabrics, extraordinary antique furniture or superb views over the garden and parkland – in one you’ll even find the original bed of Henrietta Maria, wife of the hapless Charles I.

The gardens and grounds at Lewtrenchard really are a sight to behold, the elevated setting of the house providing splendid views over them and the peaceful parkland beyond.

Extending over several acres, the glorious gardens feature streams and ponds, fountains and statuary, sunken lawns and a profusion of shrubs, plus a huge rustic dovecote and a recently restored walled vegetable garden, where the chefs often gather fresh produce for their menus.