Chavenage House facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chavenage House
"The ideal sixteenth-century Cotswold stone manor house"
Type	House
Location	Beverston, Gloucestershire
Built	16th century
Architectural style(s)	Elizabethan
Governing body	Privately owned
Listed Building – Grade I
Official name: Chavenage House and Chapel
Designated	16 March 1987
Reference no.	1152854
Listed Building – Grade II
Official name: Pair of gatepiers at Chavenage House and adjoining quadrant walls
Designated	16 March 1987
Reference no.	1089754
Listed Building – Grade II
Official name: Folly at Chavenage House
Designated	16 March 1987
Reference no.	1152873
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Chavenage House is a beautiful old country house located in Beverston, Gloucestershire, England. It was built a long time ago, in 1576, and is made from special local stone called Cotswold stone. The roof is also made of Cotswold stone tiles. Experts say it's a perfect example of a 16th-century Cotswold manor house. Today, it's considered a very important historic building, known as a Grade I listed building.

The Story of Chavenage House

How the House Began

The land where Chavenage House stands was bought in 1564 by a man named Edward Stephens. He decided to build the house in a style popular during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. He even used glass from old churches and monasteries for the big windows on the south side.

When Edward passed away, his son Richard inherited the estate. After Richard's death, his second wife Anne owned it for a while. Later, Richard's oldest son, Nathaniel Stephens, became the owner of Chavenage House.

Chavenage During the Civil War

During the English Civil War, Nathaniel Stephens supported the Roundheads, who were against the king. He even raised troops to fight for their side. Nathaniel later became a member of Oliver Cromwell's parliament. Cromwell was a very powerful leader at that time.

Cromwell himself visited Chavenage House. Nathaniel Stephens supported the idea of removing King Charles I from power. Although Nathaniel did not sign the official document to do this, people say he died soon after from sadness or regret.

The Headless Coachman Ghost Story

There's a famous ghost story about Chavenage House. People say that on the day Nathaniel Stephens died, his ghost was seen leaving the house. He was in a coach driven by a headless coachman. This coachman was supposedly dressed like the unhappy King Charles I. Because of this and other tales, Chavenage House is known as one of England's most haunted homes.

Changes Over Time

In 1801, Henry Wills Stephens inherited the house. He added a room for playing billiards. He also added beautiful wooden panels and carvings to many of the rooms.

Since 1891, the Lowsley-Williams family has owned Chavenage House. They hired an architect named John T. Micklewaite. He added a new section on the east side, which includes a large ballroom with oak panels.

During World War II, in 1944, American soldiers stayed at Chavenage House. They were preparing for the Normandy landings in France.

Exploring Chavenage House

What the House Looks Like

Chavenage House is an Elizabethan house, built in 1576 by Edward Stephens. It has a special "E-shaped" design when you look at it from above. The main entrance is in the middle of the east side. It's built from rough stone with a stone tile roof and has two main floors plus attic rooms.

The house was made bigger in the 17th and 18th centuries. It was also extended again in the early 20th century. These new parts were built to match the original style and materials. This means the whole building looks like one consistent old house, and it's hard to tell which parts were added later.

Inside the House

Inside, the house used to have a very large open hall. Now, a ceiling has been added, and there's a changed minstrels' gallery above a screen. This part is from the 16th century. The dining room has a beautiful old fireplace and wooden panels.

Two special rooms are called Cromwell's Room and Ireton's Room. They both have old tapestries on the walls. The Great Hall has amazing stained glass windows. The Oak Room is famous for its detailed wooden panels from 1590. There's also an Edwardian section with a ballroom that has a special "sprung floor" for dancing.

The Family Chapel

Near the house is the family chapel. This chapel is also part of the Grade I listing. It has a tower that was built in the 17th century just for decoration, called a "folly." The tower has two levels and a top part with battlements, like a castle. The main part of the chapel was built in the 18th century. It has a covered walkway that connects it to the main house.

Visiting Chavenage

Chavenage House is open to the public on certain days. It can also be rented for special events, like conferences, parties, and weddings.

Chavenage as a Filming Location

Chavenage House has been used as a setting for many films and television shows. Its historic look makes it perfect for period dramas.

Some of the productions filmed here include:

• Barry Lyndon
• The Ghost of Greville Lodge
• The Mysterious Affair at Styles (a Hercule Poirot story)
• The Barchester Chronicles
• Berkeley Square
• Cider with Rosie
• Grace & Favour
• The House of Eliott
• Casualty
• Dracula

From 2008, the house was featured as Candleford Manor in the BBC series Lark Rise to Candleford. Other shows filmed around that time include Bonekickers, Tess of the D'Urbervilles (starring Eddie Redmayne), and In Love with Barbara.

More recently, Chavenage has been seen in:

• Rosamunde Pilcher's The Four Seasons
• The BBC's Nightwatch
• The CBBC series Sparticles
• The Unknown Heart (based on an idea by Rosamunde Pilcher)
• The historical drama New Worlds (Channel 4), starring Jamie Dornan

Chavenage House is also known as Trenwith House in the popular new TV show Poldark (2015 TV series), starring Aidan Turner.

See also

• Nathaniel Stephens, whose ghost story with the headless coachman is one of Chavenage's most famous legends.