Acton Court facts for kids
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Acton Court is a very old and special house in Gloucestershire, England. It's a historic manor house, which means it was once a large country home for an important family. This amazing building shows off Tudor style, which was popular when kings and queens like Henry VIII ruled England. It is now a Grade I listed building, meaning it's very important and protected.
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Acton Court: A Royal Tudor Home
What is Acton Court?
Acton Court is found near the village of Iron Acton in South Gloucestershire. It's a bit far from the main village and the local church. The house has a long history, dating back many centuries. It was once surrounded by a moat, a deep, wide ditch, usually filled with water, for protection.
Who Lived There? The Poyntz Family
From 1364 until 1680, the Poyntz family owned Acton Court. They were an important family in the area. One of the most famous members was Nicholas Poyntz (who died in 1557). He decided to make big changes to the house.
Around 1535, Nicholas Poyntz added a new part called the East Wing. This building work took about nine months to finish. He wanted this new wing to be very fancy and modern. His goal was to impress important guests, especially the King of England!
A King's Visit: Henry VIII at Acton Court
Nicholas Poyntz's plan worked! In 1535, King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn, stayed at Acton Court. They were on a tour of the West Country. The new East Wing was decorated beautifully for their visit. Imagine a king and queen sleeping in your house! Nicholas Poyntz continued to work on the house until he passed away in 1557.
From Grand Home to Farmhouse
The Poyntz family owned Acton Court for a long time. But in 1680, the direct family line ended. This meant there was no one left to inherit the house. So, Acton Court was sold. It was made smaller and changed into a farmhouse for people to rent.
Over many years, the house was not looked after very well. It slowly started to fall apart. By the end of the 1900s, almost only the East Wing, where the King had stayed, was still standing. However, this neglect actually helped preserve it! The parts where the King and Queen stayed were kept almost exactly as they were in Tudor times. This made Acton Court a rare example of a royal apartment from that period.
Bringing Acton Court Back to Life
In 1984, a special group called the Bristol Visual and Environmental Group (BVEG) bought Acton Court. They wanted to save this historic building. They started a huge project to restore the house. This meant carefully repairing and rebuilding it to look like it did in its grandest days.
Before the restoration, experts from English Heritage studied the house very carefully. They published a detailed book about how the house changed over time. This study helped guide the restoration work. Thanks to all this effort, Acton Court has been brought back to life. It now stands as an amazing example of Tudor history.
