Owlpen Manor

About the museum

Owlpen Manor lies in a secluded valley in the Cotswolds about a mile east of Uley. The estate has medieval origins, and its name is thought to go back to a Saxon landowner. The de Olepenne family held it from about 1100 until 1462, after which it passed by marriage to the Daunt family, who built the centre and east ranges of the present house in the sixteenth century. A west wing was added in 1616 and the house was partly remodelled in the Georgian style in the early 1700s.

After the Daunt line ended in 1803 the estate passed to the Stoughton family, who moved to a new mansion nearby, and the old manor fell into decline. It was rescued in 1925 by the Cotswold Arts and Crafts architect Norman Jewson, who repaired it with traditional materials and local craftsmen and kept the later Georgian features. The house first opened to the public in 1966.

The Mander family has owned Owlpen since 1974 and has bought back much of the historic estate, restoring many of its buildings. The house contains a Tudor great hall, a Jacobean wing, a great chamber with painted cloth wall hangings of about 1700, family portraits and a collection of Cotswold Arts and Crafts furniture. Outside are seven hanging terraces with yew topiary and old roses, a walled kitchen garden, a mill pond and a church. Today the estate is also a wedding venue and holiday accommodation.

Highlights

• Tudor great hall of 1523 and Jacobean wing of 1616
• Great chamber with painted cloth wall hangings of about 1700
• Collection of Cotswold Arts and Crafts furniture and fittings
• Mander family portraits and collections
• Seven terraced gardens with yew topiary and old roses
• Cider barn and mill pond

Permanent exhibition

• Owlpen Manor house interiors – A Tudor great hall, Jacobean wing and great chamber with painted cloth hangings, shown on guided tours together with Arts and Crafts furniture and family portraits.

Founded

1616

Operated by

Mander family (private owners)

Admission & discounts

There is no standard admission. Visits are by guided tour only; public tours are sold through Ticket Tailor.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The manor house has steep stairs and slippery floors and is not suitable for mobility scooters, wheelchairs, walking frames or pushchairs. The gardens are terraced on a hillside with steps between the terraces, mostly without handrails. Guests with mobility needs can park in front of the manor house, and staff can escort them through the gardens on a guided tour.

Kids & families

• Stroller-friendly: not available

The house is not suitable for pushchairs because of steep stairs and uneven floors.

Getting there & parking

The estate lies about a mile east of Uley, off the B4066 between Dursley and Stroud. Turn off by the Old Crown pub on the village green and follow the signs for Owlpen Manor; ignore the sign for the lane unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles. The what3words location is remarking.bricks.streaking.

Amenities & dining

• Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is available at the estate office and in the holiday cottages; mobile phone coverage is patchy in the valley. Toilets are provided for visitors with a booking. Group tours include a meal or cream tea served in the 15th-century Cyder Barn.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

The estate hires out a barn venue for weddings, celebrations, corporate events and private hire, and also offers holiday cottages and a glamping area.

Plan your visit