Stoneywell
Arts and Crafts cottage in the Charnwood hills designed by Ernest Gimson, preserved by the National Trust with its family furnishings.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Stoneywell was built in 1897–99 to a design by the Arts and Crafts architect Ernest Gimson for his brother Sydney, as a summer home for the family. It is the largest of five cottages Gimson designed at Ulverscroft. The house is built of local stone and sits directly on outcrops of Charnwood rock, so its rooms zigzag across the slope. It cost much more than the budget Gimson first suggested.
The cottage stayed in the Gimson family for more than a century. After a fire in 1938 the original thatched roof was replaced with second-hand Swithland slate. It kept much of its original furniture, including chairs made by Gimson and pieces by Sidney Barnsley, and it is listed Grade II*.
The National Trust acquired Stoneywell in 2013 after a public appeal and opened it to visitors in 2015. The visit includes the cottage, which can be explored at your own pace or on a guided tour, the garden with its steep slopes, and a small tearoom in the stable yard. Visitors are brought up from the car park on a shuttle bus.
Highlights
- Arts and Crafts cottage by Ernest Gimson
- Original family furniture including pieces by Gimson and Sidney Barnsley
- Rocky hillside garden
- Guided cottage tour of about 40 minutes
- Shuttle bus from the car park
- Founded
- 2015
- Operated by
- National Trust
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £12 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | £6free up to age 4 · Child 5 to 17; under-5s are free. |
| Groups | £11.40 per personAdult group price; child group price £5.70. |
| Families | £302 adults and up to 3 children. |
| Family: 1 adult and up to 3 children | £18 |
Free entry for National Trust members; pre-booking is required for everyone. Prices shown are without Gift Aid; with Gift Aid they are £13.20 for adults, £6.60 for children, £33 for a family of 2 adults and £19.80 for a family of 1 adult.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The shuttle bus from the car park has steps to board. Only the stables and the cottage dining room have level access, and the garden has steep slopes. Wheelchair users are asked to contact the property before visiting. An accessible toilet is in the stable yard, induction loops are in the tearoom and a portable one is used on guided tours, and braille and large print guides and a virtual tour are available. Only assistance dogs are allowed.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Markfield
The nearest railway station is Barrow-upon-Soar, 7 miles away. Buses 29A and 29B run from Leicester to Coalville; get off at Markfield, 2 miles from Stoneywell.
By car
Parking available
The car park is on Whitcroft’s Lane, about 500 yards from Stoneywell, and is small and for standard-sized vehicles only (call +44 1530 248040 for motorhomes or caravans). All visitors check in there and take the shuttle bus to the house.
- Accessible parking
Car park address Whitcroft’s Lane, Ulverscroft, LE67 9QE. Exit the A50 towards Shepshed and follow the signs via Priory Lane. Cyclists and walkers should phone the property first.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
Small tearoom serving hot and cold drinks, cakes and snacks, with a second-hand bookshop inside. Toilets are in the stable yard.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 40 min |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The cottage can be explored at your own pace at set intervals or on a 40-minute tour with a cottage host (first come, first served on the day). |
