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Chavenage

Travel Information and nearby accommodation

A sprawling Elizabethan country house of grey Cotswold stone. See the chamber where Oliver Cromwell slept when he visited here with General Ireton in 1648. The interior rooms feature historic tapestries, Cromwellian relics, and fine period furnishings.

The house was extended in the early 20th century and boasts a lovely Edwardian ballroom.

Chavenage has featured in so many feature films and tevevision dramas over the years that to list them all here would take ages. A few popular films in which Chavenage was used include Lark Rise to Candleford, Cider with Rosie, The House of Eliot, and the Agatha Christie mystery The Mysterious Affair at Styles.

History
Chavenage is mentioned as early as the 9th century, when a Hundred Court met here. The first known holder of the estate was Goda, the sister of King Edward the Confesor and wife of Earl Godwin of Mercia. There was a monastic presence at Chavenage in the 14th century, under the control of Bruton Abbey, Somerset. Parts of the current Chavenage House probably formed part of the monastic buildings. At the same time as the monastic buildings were erected, a large barn was erected nearby. This barn now houses a squash court.

When the abbey of Bruton was dissolved uder Henry VIII, Chavenage estate was granted to Thomas Seymour, who subsequently married Henry VIII's sixth and last wife, Katherine Parr. After Seymour was executed for treason in 1549 the house passed through several hands until it was purchased by Edward Stephens. It was Stephens who transformed the medieval house and created a grand Elizabethan manor. Stephens used glass from nearby churches and dissolved monasteries, and timbers from ships broken up on the River Seven nearby.

Chavenage in the Civil War
Nathaniel Stephens of Chavenage was a Parliamentary commander in the Civil War. In 1644 Parliamentary troops used Chavenage as a base to besiege nearby Beverstone Castle. Two attacks failed, and the Parliamentary commander was at a loss until they discovered that a young girl at Chavenage was romantically linked with the commander of the Beverstone Castle deenders. Apparently the girl would place a lighted candle at a window to let her lover know the coast was clear and no attack was planned for that night. The window can still be seen, beside the garden door off the Library passage. The Parliamentary soldiers placed a candle in the window to lure the commander of Beverstone away, and attacked again, secure in the knowledge that the commander was otherwise occupied and not at his post.

The Chavenage Ghost
Nathaniel Stephens, as mentioned earlier, supported Parliament in the Civil War. He was less willing to embrace the idea that King Charles should be executed, however. At Christmas, 1648, Cromwell despatched Geneal Ireton to Chavenage to persuade Stephens to support the idea of regicide. After much persuasion, Stephens agreed. When his daughter Abigail heard this, she flew into a rage and laid a curse on her own father. Shortly after, her father fell ill and died. When the household assembled for his funeral, a hearse drew up before the door, driven by a headless coachman. Stephens's corpse rose from his coffin, bowed to the coachman, and entered the hearse. As he drove the hearse away, the coachman apeared to change into a likeness of the dead King Charles I. Thereafter, every time the head of the Stephens family died, the headless coachman was said to appear and take him away.

Civil War mementoes are on view in Cromwell and Ireton's room, including several swords, pikes, a leather hat protector, and horse furniture.
Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England, GL8 8XP

About Chavenage
Attraction Type: Historic House
Location: 2 miles north west of Tetbury on a minor road
Website: Chavenage
Email: info@chavenage.com
Phone: 01666 502 329
Fax: 01453 836 778
Historic Houses Association
Location map
OS ST871951
Photo Credit: Philip Halling, licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence
Heritage Rating:   ?

Nearest attractions Nearest Towns and Villages Nearest accommodation Nearest Tourist Information Centre

OS map Related Information

Nearest Attractions Tetbury, St Mary the Virgin - 1.8 miles (Church) Trull House - 3.5 miles (Garden) Westonbirt Arboretum - 3.6 miles (Garden) Windmill Tump - 4 miles (Prehistoric) Rodmarton Manor - 4.7 miles (Historic House) Owlpen Manor - 4.8 miles (Historic House) Woodchester Mansion - 5.5 miles (Historic House) Newark Park - 5.5 miles (Historic House)

Nearest Towns and Villages Tetbury - 2 miles away Ozleworth - 5 miles away Chalford - 5.2 miles away Malmesbury - 6 miles away Alderley - 6.9 miles away Randwick - 7.7 miles away Dursley - 7.8 miles away Painswick - 9.1 miles away

Nearest Accommodation to Chavenage

Nearest Self Catering Cottages

Coopers Cottage - 5.4 miles from Chavenage Uley, Gloucestershire Sleeps: 4 Stay from: £285

Lance House - 8.1 miles from Chavenage Hawkesbury, Gloucestershire Sleeps: 4 Stay from: £280

Lance Cottage - 8.1 miles from Chavenage Hawkesbury, Gloucestershire Sleeps: 4 Stay from: £280

More Self Catering near Chavenage

Nearest Hotels

Priory Inn - 1.5 miles from Chavenage Tetbury, Gloucestershire Stay from: £49.00

The Ormond At Tetbury - 1.7 miles from Chavenage Tetbury, Gloucestershire Stay from: £49.00

The Close Hotel - 1.7 miles from Chavenage Tetbury, Gloucestershire Stay from: £7.00

More Hotels near Chavenage

Nearest Bed and Breakfasts

Heavens Above B & B - 3 miles from Chavenage Stroud, Gloucestershire From: £100.00

The Old Lodge - 3.7 miles from Chavenage Stroud, Gloucestershire From: £65.00

The Ragged Cot - 4 miles from Chavenage Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire From: £110.00

More bed and breakfasts near Chavenage

Tetbury
Tourist Information Centre
Shop 1
33 Church Street
Tetbury
Gloucestershire
England
GL8 8JG
Tel: 01666 503 552
Fax: 01666 503 552
Email: tourism@tetbury.org
Seasonal opening
Map