Photo: Madresfield Court by Trevor Rickard, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About this place
Madresfield Court is a moated country house near Malvern in Worcestershire.
The Lygon family has held it for 900 years without sale, making their ownership one of the longest unbroken family successions in England.
The present building is largely a Victorian reconstruction that stands on a site with medieval and earlier foundations.
Evelyn Waugh was a frequent visitor, and the house inspired the Marchmain family home in Brideshead Revisited.
The property is Grade I listed and open for pre-booked guided tours in spring and early summer.
The rooms hold notable collections of paintings, furniture, and ceramics, and the house played a significant role in the Arts and Crafts movement.
Read more on WikipediaHistory
The site has medieval and earlier foundations, with the present house originating from the 16th century before substantial Victorian rebuilding. Ownership has passed by inheritance alone since the 12th century, a line of unbroken succession said to be exceeded in England only by homes belonging to the royal family. The house is now home to the 29th generation of the Lygon line.
Architecture
The house standing today is largely the product of Victorian reconstruction on earlier 16th-century foundations. It is a Grade I listed building, surrounded by its original moat.
Worth knowing
Evelyn Waugh was a frequent visitor to Madresfield and drew on the Lygon family for the Marchmains of Brideshead Revisited. The house also played a significant part in nurturing the Arts and Crafts movement, and its rooms hold notable collections of paintings, furniture, and ceramics.
Plan your visit
Nearest station: Malvern Link Rail Station (1.6 miles)
Open for pre-booked guided tours from April to June; check official website for availability and booking details.
Nearby properties
Leigh Court Barn
View Leigh Court Barn on heritage mapCroome Park
View Croome Park on heritage mapSt Mary Magdalene's Church, Croome D'Abitot
View St Mary Magdalene's Church, Croome D'Abitot on heritage mapHistoric places nearby
Within 5 miles of Madresfield Court there are 1 historic properties, including 1 historic building.
Within 10 miles of Madresfield Court there are 17 historic properties, including 6 historic buildings, 6 churchs and 4 historic houses, across Churches Conservation Trust, Historic Houses and National Trust sites.
Within 20 miles of Madresfield Court there are 52 historic properties, including 16 historic buildings, 15 churchs and 14 historic houses, across Historic Houses, Churches Conservation Trust and English Heritage sites.
Facts
A moated house held by one family for 900 years, and a real-life inspiration for Brideshead Revisited.
- Type
- historic house
- Location
- Worcestershire, England
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