History & Restoration

• Crowcombe Court was built in 1723-1739 by Thomas Carew as a splendid new country house at the centre of its estate.
• The architects were Thomas Parker (service wings and basement) followed by Nathaniel Ireson, who built the main house.
• Carew’s successors lived here until the 1960s when the house and its immediate gardens were sold.
• The kitchen and stable wings were converted to residential use, so there is now a discreet community of neighbours to one side.
• The principal house remains intact and is recognised as a classic example of the regional English Baroque style.
• It was described by Nikolaus Pevsner in ‘The Buildings of England” as “the finest house of its date in Somerset south of the Bath area”.
• The plasterwork is exceptional and other historic features include two fine original stairs and some good chimneypieces.
• The house has been carefully restored over the past eight years by the present owners, an architectural historian and a designer.
• The programme of works has been comprehensive, concentrating on all-important structural and infrastructural tasks as well as more detailed conservation and repair.