Discover more at Benthall Hall
Find out when Benthall Hall is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
Things to see and do at Benthall Hall
Benthall may be a small estate, but it’s packed full of things to do. As well as guided tours around the house you can stroll around the gardens or walk through the park and woods. Here’s what you can see and do at Benthall Hall.
Visit the house
The house is still tenanted by the Benthall family today, and they can trace their lineage back to the Saxon period on this site.
Inside the house you can discover more about the family, how their family line lost the estate, only to return home years later. You'll also find out about the impact of the tenants on the estate during this interim period.
Things to look out for indoors
There’s a number of interesting features to see in the house, including the staircase, wood panelling and plaster ceilings.
The flagstone floor in the Entrance Hall was replaced in 1859 with locally made tiles with designs inspired by medieval heraldic patterns. These were manufactured by Maw and Co. of Jackfield when the house was occupied by brothers George and Arthur Maw, who ran the tile works.
The tiles were covered by the present oak floor in 1918, but it’s still possible to view the colourful Maw tiles through a trap door.
New exhibition: Maw 2026
George Maw (1832–1912) was a distinguished Victorian botanist, geologist, and artist whose lifelong passion for plants took him on journeys across Europe and beyond. Although he was a contemporary of figures such as Charles Darwin, Joseph Hooker, and Gertrude Jekyll, Maw remains less widely known today. A new exhibition at Benthall Hall seeks to change that, shining a light on his remarkable life, work, and legacy.
The year 2026 marks the 140th anniversary of Maw’s seminal publication, The Genus Crocus. This extraordinary work represents over a decade of meticulous research and features his own detailed, hand-drawn botanical illustrations. Maw had a particular affection for crocuses, cultivating numerous varieties in the gardens at Benthall, many of which continue to inspire visitors today.
In addition to his scientific pursuits, Maw was also an accomplished entrepreneur. In 1850, he co-founded the tile manufacturing company Maw & Co. with his brother Arthur. Combining artistic design with strong commercial insight, the brothers built a highly successful business during the height of the Industrial Revolution, producing decorative tiles that were widely admired for their quality and craftsmanship.
Benthall Hall was Maw’s home for more than 30 years and served as the centre of his creative and intellectual life. Here, he brought together his many interests: nurturing rare and unusual plants in the gardens, showcasing his tile designs within the Entrance Hall, and assembling extensive collections of fossils and geological specimens in his Study.
This exhibition invites visitors to explore how George Maw’s passion for plants, science, and design continues to shape the character of Benthall Hall and its garden today.
George Maw’s Global Suitcase Journey Trail
Step into adventure with George Maw’s Global Suitcase Journey at Benthall Hall—a fun, interactive children’s trail inspired by a real Victorian explorer. Follow George’s travels across the world, from Syria to Spain and beyond, discovering plants, fossils, and dazzling tile designs along the way. Explore hands-on activities, crack creative challenges, and collect stamps in your trail passport at every stop. Dress up, dig for fossils, design patterns, and even share your journey online.
Explore the garden
Benthall's 19th-century garden was planted by George Maw, a passionate bulb collector and breeder. Based on his collection of over 3,000 plant species, Maw published 'A Monograph of the Genus Crocus' in 1886. The book is illustrated by his own watercolours and brings together 10 years of research gathered from his plant collecting expeditions around the world.
The original glasshouse was restored in 2025 and is now a beautiful feature of the walled garden.
The neighbouring church, St Bartholomew’s, has recently been acquired by the National Trust. This is an interesting and unusual building to explore, as it was rebuilt during the Restoration period after the original church was destroyed during the Civil War.
Park and woodland walks
Out in the wider landscape, there are some lovely walks around the park and woodland. You can even walk to Ironbridge and back if you don’t mind a bit of a slope.
Through the trees spy great views towards the Ironbridge Gorge and across to the Long Mynd. Look out for large flocks of migratory birds and sightings of deer.
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History of Benthall Hall
Discover the history the Benthall family played in the Civil War, as being Royalists, the family supported King Charles I and this meant confronting the Parliamentarians.
Visiting Benthall with your dog
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