An atmospheric fragment of old Somerset: the estate is the vision of Colonel Lyle and his architect James Edwin Forbes. It has farm buildings, abundant flowers and orchards.
Read this article to find out what you can expect from your visit. The garden, parkland, café, shop and book barn are open. The house is closed. We look forward to welcoming you.
Colonel Arthur Lyle rescued the partially derelict 16th-century Court House in the 1920s, undertaking an ambitious restoration and surrounding it with a productive estate. A keen collector of architectural salvage, Colonel Lyle filled the house with rescued panelling, fireplaces and staircases. His fortune came from the colonial sugar industry; he was the founder’s grandson and Director of what became Tate & Lyle. Now without furniture, the light, empty spaces provide atmospheric opportunities to explore freely.
Court House is currently closed after weather conditions damaged part of the roof. Scaffolding has been erected around some of the house while engineering and ecological surveys are carried out ahead of a wider project to protect Court House and Strode House.
The walled White Garden, Rose and Iris Garden and Lily Garden were influenced by Gertrude Jekyll, with playing fountains, vibrant colours and intoxicating scents. The original kitchen garden remains productive; supplying the restaurant and continuing the Lyle family's vision of self-sufficiency.
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Child | £5.50 | £5.00 |
| Family | £27.50 | £25.00 |
| 1 adult family | £16.60 | £15.00 |
|
Group Adult
Minimum group size 15
|
N/A | £9.50 |
|
Group Child
Minimum group size 15
|
N/A | £4.75 |
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points.
Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you a clear choice between the Gift Aid Admission prices and the Standard Admission prices at the admission point. It's entirely up to you which ticket you choose.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below:
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
Free entry for National Trust members.
