Interior design by the homeowner using locally based studio Upstairs Downstairs Interiors cloaks the vast proportions in layers of comfort. Throughout, embroidered textiles and patterned wallpaper inject richness, colour and cosiness, while campaign chests, antique furniture and a large art collection nod to the Georgian and Victorian eras.
Set in a 35-acre stretch of Somerset countryside, this stately seven-bedroom manor house to rent has 18th century roots and a 21st century mindset.
Property information
There’s an unhurried feel to life at Winterbourne, a place where rural panoramas meet roaring fires and personalised wellness rituals in the dedicated spa.
All honeyed stone, Strawberry Hill gothic architecture and a grand hamstone porch, Winterbourne Manor could have been plucked from the pages of an Austen novel. Commissioned by Reverend Richard Ford in 1792, the past is gently preserved in its grand drawing rooms, turret-like staircase and banqueting hall – while the future is assured in its more recent interventions.
If the heated swimming pool, Japanese onsen baths and showpiece sauna aren’t invitation enough to slow down, then the attentive staff should be. There’s a housekeeper to keep things quietly turning in the background and wellness specialists to help you reset. Depending on requirements, guests have the choice of renting the entire estate, the main house, or two on-site cottages separately.
What’s included?
- Full-time housekeepers and private chef
- Customisable wellness packages and activities for guests
- Option to rent two additional guest cottages: Court Cottage and Ford Cottage, plus an annex
7-night weekly price: £11,000-£20,000
3-night weekend price: From £8,500
The living spaces
A dramatically sweeping stone staircase sets the tone for a trio of equally elegant living spaces. Leisurely days play out between a soothing drawing room with mismatched sofas and armchairs, and a library that calls for a crackling fire in the hearth. Pluck a tome from the bookshelves, sink into the plushest of seats and bask in the soft light that filters through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Just opposite, a quieter snug meets its own quota of chintzy armchairs and fabric covered lamps, alongside another working fireplace and a Mahogany desk.
Kitchen & dining
The dining room is fittingly decadent: sage green walls, a floor-to-ceiling window and a 10-seater antique table for dinner parties under the gaze of a family portrait. Gilded mirrors and voluminous proportions add to the sense of pomp and ceremony. For larger celebrations, a nearby banqueting barn seats 30 under a lofty beamed ceiling, while an adjoining professional kitchen is specially designed to cater for a crowd.
Back in the main house, Versailles parquet flooring sweeps into the bright kitchen, the domain of the house manager and chef. The farmhouse style space is well equipped with a large island, Aga and electric hob. In the nook of a huge bay window, a circular breakfast table is the perfect spot for more informal meals, overlooking the gardens.
Bedrooms & bathrooms
Four imposing bedrooms span the first floor – all plush upholstery, antique furniture and views out over the serenity. The oriental-inspired principal suite is conducive to switching off, with a bamboo four-poster bed, silk floral wallpaper and dusty blue tones. Rugs, lamps and fabrics envelop the space in warmth and comfort, while the wallpapered en suite bathroom brings a touch of indulgence with its deep tub.
Each room has its own personality and palette: from a double with a grand four-poster and green hues that echo the foliage beyond, to a pink-toned twin with sumptuous silk finishes. Two family bathrooms offer a relaxing footnote with bold wallpaper and full-sized bathtubs.
The top floor is the domain of older children or extended family members, complete with its own den-come-cinema-room. Three further bedrooms and two bathrooms feature the same exuberant finishes and rural outlooks.
Outdoor space
With Dorset horn sheep grazing on the other side of the winterbourne stream that bubbles through the fields in the latter months of the year, the estate paints a picture-perfect pastoral scene. Majestic spreading Holm oaks and a castellated yew hedge add natural structure to abundant grounds landscaped by Keith Anderson. Ramble through the long-grassed orchard and wild gardens or unwind with a few laps of the heated swimming pool tucked within its own walled garden. There’s an outdoor dining area for balmier evenings – and a convenient boot room with a large butler sink for freshening up after any bracing walks.
Wellness & leisure
Restorative wellness rituals are an integral part of the Winterbourne experience. Inspired by the rejuvenating setting, a team of therapists, longevity specialists and trainers applies a holistic approach to health and fitness.
Begin and end the day with invigorating fire and ice routines, dipping between traditional Japanese onsen baths and a spectacular sauna. Ease tension and restore balance with a massage in the dedicated spa or unlock a detailed health profile with a comprehensive blood analysis. Meanwhile, a soaring barn provides an underfloor-heated hub for matt-based and aerial yoga, gym classes, breath workshops, sound healing or meditation in front of the roaring fire.
Property features
The surroundings
The county of Somerset is on your doorstep here. Follow the hiking trails from the estate to the picturesque town of Somerton, the former capital of Wessex. This is a place of epic history, first mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle of 773. Make a pitstop at family-run Alfredo’s for venetian cicchetti. Brave cold-water swimming at Lulworth Cove, trace the Jurassic coastline, or ramble up the ramparts of Maiden Castle, an expansive Iron Age hillfort dating from the 1st century BC. If you tire of the estate’s 35 acres, jump in the car to Exmoor National Park, where some 265 square miles of open moorland and ancient woodland await. Come evening, book a table at Osip in nearby Bruton, a gastronomic destination that’s put Somerset on the culinary map.
Glastonbury is just up the road, which is music to the ears of festival goers who want to forego camping. When the city calls, London is only one hour 30 minutes away by train, while the Jurassic Coast and Bath are both a 60-minute drive in either direction.
Nearest Tube Stations
Castle Cary
Guest Services
At your service
No request is too big or small for our concierge team. Premier League tickets to an all-important game, specialist piano tuners, a Michelin-starred plant-based chef. It’s a yes to all of the above.
Finesse your stay
Fine dining at home
Wellness & treatments
Childcare & entertainment
Private chauffeurs & car hire
Florists & florals
Sports tickets, music tours & events
Dining out in style
Seasonal experiences & décor
Mixologists & sommeliers
At home entertainment
New Listing
New Listing
Enviable Chipping Norton location
Swimming pool and gym
You are enquiring about:
Winterbourne Manor House
from £1,575-£2,860 / night
Select your dates
from £1,575-£2,860 / night
Date caveat copy - properties have a minimum rental period of 1 week
Winterbourne Manor House
from £1,575-£2,860 / night
20th March, 2025 - 11th April, 2025
from £44,000 for 22 nights
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