Corsham Court
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Overview
Corsham Court was built in 1582 on the site of a medieval royal manor that had, for centuries, been part of the dower of the Queens of England. Paul Methuen, a wealthy clothier and ancestor of the present owner, bought Corsham in 1745. ‘Capability’ Brown’s designs were employed in the house as well as the grounds, and John Nash made further changes. In the 19th century Frederick Methuen, Lord-in-Waiting to Queen Victoria, married Anna Sanford, a young heiress who brought with her a collection of Old Masters, many of which were outstanding and important. Since then the Methuens, though primarily a military family, have shared a love of art, and a commitment to preserving their inheritance. The fourth Lord Methuen studied painting under Walter Sickert and, as a soldier in liberated France, served as Field Marshal Montgomery’s advisor on the preservation of monuments and art. In later years Methuen let a large part of the house to the Bath Academy of Art. The character of the house dates principally from the middle of the 19th century. The staterooms are splendid, as much for their architecture and furnishings as for the paintings they contain. The picture gallery, designed by Brown, is a triple cube, 72 feet in length, with an intricately plastered ceiling and walls of crimson silk that match the Chippendale furniture. Van Dyck’s superb Betrayal of Christ hangs here, together with Rubens’s Wolf Hunt and works of the Italian School. In the elegant dining room are two Reynolds portraits of the children of Paul Methuen. Corsham also possesses an exquisite Annunciation from the studio of Filippo Lippi, a haunting portrait of the ageing Queen Elizabeth I and a sculpture of a sleeping cherub by Michelangelo. The garden has flowering shrubs, herbaceous borders, a Georgian bath house and peacocks.
Features
- Opening Times
- Opening Times: Open 20 Mar-Sep, Tue-Thu, Sat-Sun & BHs 2-5.30. Oct-19 Mar open wknds only 2-4.30 (last admission 30mins before closing). Closed Dec. Open throughout year by appointment for groups 15+
- Facilities
- Parking onsite
About the area
Wiltshire’s charm lies in the beauty of its countryside, with expansive chalk landscapes of the Marlborough and Pewsey downs and miles of uninterrupted views deep into Dorset, Somerset and the Cotswolds. Stroll through quaint timbered and thatched villages in the southern Woodford and Avon valleys and explore the historic streets of the stone villages of Lacock, Castle Combe and Sherston.
Places to eat nearby View all
Nearby places to stay
View all (8)
Nearby places to stay
The Methuen Arms
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Anvil Cottage
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Anvil Cottage
Anvil Cottage is a beautiful cottage in the grounds of The Close, an 18th-century house facing the duck pond, in Biddestone. It is ideally placed to visit Bath, and the historic village...
The Rectory Lacock
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Sign of the Angel
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Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa
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Beechfield House
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The Northey Arms
The Northey Arms is located in Box, just a short drive from the beguiling city of Bath and surrounded by beautiful countryside. There's a lovely atmosphere here and a real sense of welc...
