Exploring Westonbirt House stately home

Join me as I have a look around Westonbirt House in Gloucestershire (near Tetbury) in England. The place is now a school but still retains much of its former character as a country house formerly belonging to a very rich family. I particularly enjoyed discovering the Pulhamite around the lake. Thanks for watching, Adam :)

[@WilldoAldone]

Looks to be in good original condition. Beautiful house and grounds.Thank you for posting

[@AdamExploresBritain]

Agreed. It's fortunate that some of these houses were taken over to be used as schools etc. Apparently this house was offered to the Rothschilds when it was a going concern but even they didn't want to take on the costs of running it. If it wasn't for a school or something similar there may very well be no house at all. Thanks for watching, I really appreciate it and I'm glad you liked it :)

[@tinawetzel3912]

I really enjoyed the video. It was wonderful to see that even though it’s being used as a school for girls, the house still has a lot of its original charm. When I saw a classroom (the one w/ the large fireplace), I wondered if the students would often find themselves daydreaming while amidst the furnishings, walls, painted ceiling, carved fireplace, etc. Wishing my school was as interesting. Lol 🤣 I must say the garden was spectacular & so huge!! Really enjoyed this. Thank u!

[@AdamExploresBritain]

I wish my school had been like this too. No such luck unfortunately haha! I often wonder if the people who go to these schools appreciate their surroundings or if it will dawn on them when they get older how lucky they were. I think sometimes when we're young we don't appreciate things like this. Many thanks for your lovely comment, much appreciated. Adam :)

[@camelliainzurich1262]

Stunningly beautiful. What a lucky family to have all this peace and beauty. Wish I could time travel back to the past and see it in its glory. Thank your for this calm and soothing video. I like your style.

[@AdamExploresBritain]

What a lovely comment. Thank you so much. I'm glad you enjoyed it :)

[@forward_ever_ever2595]

Very appropriate for an upscale school. Bring life to the place, the sound of children....teachers shouting occasionally to the mischevious ones. When a place is unoccupied it will crumble so fast.

[@AdamExploresBritain]

Yes, it seems that the school has been a good fit for this place so far. There are much worse fates that could have happened. It's still a beautiful place :)

[@BusyBob6971]

I have watched this video again. You did an excellent job here. Its vivid. comprehensive and informative. This property as a whole is magnificent. I thank you.

[@AdamExploresBritain]

That's very kind BusyBob :) It's one of the most interesting houses that I've visited, I really enjoyed it. Adam :)

[@victoriahouse9969]

Worked there for 6 years. Has a ghost. Its been a school now for the last 80 years. Yes its a fabulous building. The trees in the arboretum line up as a avenue to a view down to the house. Which was created by Robert Holford. His family portraits are in the main hall, seen in the video. The organ plays wonderfully. Thats the orginal Damask silk on he walls.

[@victoriahouse9969]

I remember watching a snake swimming in one of the large ponds. The bridge at the church was for the Holford family to cross over the top from their house to the church. And the villagers walked from the village to the church using the under pass. The village used to be in front of the back of the house. It was moves to the other side of the church. When the gardens were landscaped. There is a Ha-ha drop down at the end of the garden view. So that the family didn't see the servants walking across the field below. And so that their view from the dinning room was unhindered by any passing servants. The ghost is Mrs Holford. She walks around upstairs and some of the pupils have heard her walking around. I never inside the church. Only the outside. If you had carried on further past the church there is a lake. Before you come to the village which is just one side of the street. Around the corner at the end of the street someone built a hobbit house. In Spring you can hear the cuckoo calling. There is bats in the cellers. The Orangery and Italian Gardens look good. Some new buildings out back I see. There is two tall trees out on the front lawn where planted by the King and Queen Mary as small saplings. They are big trees now.

[@victoriahouse9969]

This house is the 3rd house on that site.

[@AdamExploresBritain]

Thanks for your info, especially the extra few bits. Some interesting stuff. Lovely place. Thanks for watching, Adam :)

[@victoriahouse9969]

@@AdamExploresBritain picture maybe of a man. But I'm not him. Check name.

[@AdamExploresBritain]

@@victoriahouse9969 I have edited it. Apologies 😊

[@sherryallen4537]

Thank you so much for sharing this lovely house and garden tour! I really enjoyed seeing and hearing the history of this home. It is nice that it is still used. All the best to you from Massachusett!

[@AdamExploresBritain]

I'm glad that you enjoyed it, thanks for the nice comments. All the best to you from Dudley, England :)

[@chrisamos6642]

Thank you for posting. Visited Westonbirt Arboretum across the road from this house recently. Knew it was now a school and was curious about it as you can just see glimpses from the road. Very interesting.

[@AdamExploresBritain]

Thanks Chris. How was the arboretum? I was curious about that place as obviously I heard about it on the tour so wondered what it was like? Thanks, Adam :)

[@ItsMe-yv9jd]

Amazing architecturally and nice to see the grounds have not been sold off to a Chinese property developer, for yet another hotel casino... sad to see the lush interiors empty of the original art collection and antiques. (The creepy fairy lights spread out across the hall staircase, like spider webs, speaks volumes about the depressing current state of affairs.) Thanks for sharing.

[@AdamExploresBritain]

My pleasure, and thanks for the comments and for watching. Sometimes I'm just thankful that these buildings survive at all after the thousands that were lost during the 1900s. It's pretty cool to have a snoop around some of the lesser known places and see what has become of them for better or for worse. Thanks again, and all the best to you, Adam :)

[@NelsonClick]

Always been fascinated by this house. Ever since I became aware of it from Jill Franklins book when I was a child.

[@AdamExploresBritain]

Hopefully you found some parts of the video interesting then. Thanks for watching. Adam :)

[@michaelwoodbodley8099]

Thank you for the time and effort you take to make these videos, allowing people to see these lovely places who might otherwise never see them.

[@AdamExploresBritain]

That's so nice of you to say, really! Lovely comments like that make me want to make more. Many thanks, Adam :)

[@louisnealon6811]

What an absolutely smashing location for an international three-day-event this would be. It could bring in oodles of pounds which could go towards maintaining the old pile and the publicity would generate worldwide interest in it as a tourist venue.

[@victoriahouse9969]

The house is only open a few days of the year because the students are in residence most of the year. There is a yearly summer school which people attend for a couple of weeks a year. The building hosts events as well. It's all worked in around the school year calendar.

[@pphedup]

Thank you for the great camera work.

[@AdamExploresBritain]

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for watching. Adam :)

[@philippacrowe8499]

Thankyou that was wonderful! especially as will never get to see it, a soothing way to end the day. Kind regards from Australia

[@AdamExploresBritain]

I'm glad that you enjoyed it and it helped to relax you. Many thanks from England for watching. Adam :)

[@BusyBob6971]

Great video. Thank you so very much for doing this. Especially for not adding horrid music.

[@AdamExploresBritain]

You're very welcome, and thanks for watching and then leaving your lovely comment. It's much appreciated, Adam :)

[@marierowe5969]

Never knew you could visit .I live it Bristol its now on my to do list thanks too you..a great job showing us around .thankyou👍❤️

[@AdamExploresBritain]

Thank you, you're very kind. Yes, it had always interested me so I had to make arrangements to go when I realised that they opened up occasionally. I had a good trip down your way to Tyntesfield a few years back which is a lovely house. All the best, Adam :)

[@lynnl6979]

A long terrace, named because it was a terrace and long - who would have thought?! Love your dry sense of humor!! A lovely roam round. Thanks!

[@AdamExploresBritain]

Hee hee. Thank you. Thanks for watching, it's always appreciated. Many thanks, glad you enjoyed it, Adam.

[@scottjohnson6173]

I liked it, I found it to be quite opulent in its many spaces….the chapel is beautiful….the gardens are nice….but they could be so much better with way more flowers….what really took me was the different types of trees on the property…..I love trees and flowers…..it should’ve been kept as a residence and the gardens area enhanced with flowers, enhance the rosé gardens, clean out those ponds, especially the fountains bring everything back…..the school isn’t doing it justice……his legacy could be so much more, then what it is now. That’s just my opinion.

[@AdamExploresBritain]

Thanks for your comments! That's a good point about the flowers actually, that's something i didn't pick up on. Many thanks for watching, Adam :)

[@emmaroyce8558]

All , My Best . For You My Best Friend in world for all time With Best Wishes and With Love

[@victoriahouse9969]

Used to love being able to walk around the grounds on my time off.

[@victoriahouse9969]

The gardeners are kept very busy all year round. The ponds get cleaned as and when. Everything has it's schedule.

[@hotoneinspai]

Wowww very impressive...its Huge

[@AdamExploresBritain]

It is lovely. Thanks for watching :)

[@victoriahouse9969]

The terrace where the church is includes a Haha. Its a drop in the landscape, where the staff of the house could pass infront of the house without being seen by the Holford family.

[@wernerdanler2742]

The house is just an alright pile. It's the gardens I'm impressed with. I'm not sure if you use acres or hectares over there, but either way, how many of either are these gardens? It's huge. You could wander around there for days. That Cedar of Lebanon you pointed out really grew a lot in about 180 years. That tour guide inside sure had a droning voice. What kind of school is it? Grammer school or maybe a finishing school for wayward girls? 😅😂😅😂

[@AdamExploresBritain]

According to Wikipedia the grounds of Westonbirt house were around 25 acres, but Holford's arboretum down the road was apparently 600 acres. For anyone particularly into trees the arboretum must be a real treat. It's currently a girls school. Thanks for your comments and for watching my video. Adam :)

[@Thalbergfan1983]

This reminds me a lot of the rothchild country houses, very beautiful indeed, those interiors are incredible

[@AdamExploresBritain]

I love the gallery which runs all around the top. Apparently the Rothschilds were offered this house before it became a school but they turned it down as country houses of this size were even becoming a bit of a problem for them by that point!

[@Thalbergfan1983]

​@AdamExploresBritain interesting. There was a lot of pollomite(?) used at friar park, the estate of late George Harrison, I'd love to see through that place

[@AdamExploresBritain]

That looks an interesting place! I didn't realize that George Harrison and his wife were attacked in 1999 either! Yes, it's Pulhamite after James Pulham and Son. You can read about it online. Very interesting :)

[@Thalbergfan1983]

@@AdamExploresBritain yes indeed, much like a fairy tale, all the caves, puzzles, small details in the house itself makes it really magical. Yes the attack must've been horrific to go through

[@AdamExploresBritain]

I will have to read up a bit more about the house after work later on. Have a good day :)

[@bloodbanksurin8666]

พื้นที่กว้างมากใหญ่โตดีค่ะ เป็นบ้านที่สวยงามดีค่ะ

[@michaelburgess9707]

Beautiful place. It appears to have every kind of architectural detail in vogue with the Victorians but nothing really sticks. I would get those girls from the school out and start weeding and hoeing and scrubbing; it's excellent exercise.

[@AdamExploresBritain]

Haha, that genuinely made me smile! The grounds could definitely do with a bit more maintenance in a few areas but I can understand that their main purpose is not as a visitor attraction so I can forgive them somewhat for it being a bit lacking in places. I do get your point on the style too. It is overall a lovely place and I thank you for your comments and for watching. Adam :)

[@victoriahouse9969]

Before WW1 there was about 100 staff employed to look after the house & gardens. When I was there, the gardening team was down to about 5 or 6 men.

[@victoriahouse9969]

Robert Halford was a plant collector as can also be seen across the main road at Westonbirt Arboretum

[@ajadrew]

The gardens are beautiful & well laid out with great views back to the house etc. I can't figure out how the village was 'moved? To me that means houses were perhaps knocked down & rebuilt further away? The church is nice & the whole area sounds so peaceful. Your dry deadpan narration suits me. I'd been wondering why that terrace was known as 'The Long Terrace' - & your casual observation that it's called that as 'it is a terrace & it's long' immediatly put my mind at rest. 😁 Good video...I've been to Westonbirt Arboretum as I used to live in Bath 👍

[@AdamExploresBritain]

Yes, I need to go to the actual arboretum one day. I've heard good things about it. Yes, I can be a bit dry with my narration haha. And yeah, they usually just knocked the houses and stuff down and built them a new village a bit further away. It surprisingly wasn't that rare. They did it with Kedleston also, and I think Shugborough. That will have happened at loads of places. Thanks again for coming along for the journey, Adam :)

[@ajadrew]

@@AdamExploresBritain Nice one! I've several more of your videos in my Watch Later thing as well - I really love the old houses & gardens!

[@AdamExploresBritain]

@@ajadrew Enjoy, Adam :)

[@sandypompilii6901]

A beauty. Would love to have seen when it was a private residence.

[@AdamExploresBritain]

Yeah, that would be pretty cool. Thanks for watching, Adam :)

[@victoriahouse9969]

The picture of the previous houses are displayed in the Headmistress office.

[@victoriahouse9969]

I remember most of the rooms. But the bedrooms are upstairs for the pupils. The ghost does walk around up there. There is bats in the cellar. I know that dinning room well.

[@S-series1977]

Nice video 😢😮😅😅😅😅😊😊

[@AdamExploresBritain]

Thank you very much. Glad you liked it :)

[@TheReverb1]

Thank you. If I may I want to ask you how do you prevent vibrations at the time your are videoing?

[@AdamExploresBritain]

Thanks for watching. My little camera has a built in gimbal that keeps the camera head steady when you are walking etc. It's like a little spirit level kind of thing for lack of a better explanation :)

[@victoriahouse9969]

An episode of Antiques Roadshow was filmed out on the back lawn. The Two Fat Ladies filmed in the kitchen.

[@AdamExploresBritain]

Thanks for the additional information, Adam :)

[@_PJW_]

Lovely house, already started with the gate house. Pity it is a school now. I still daydream about being a millionaire and marry the last surviving female heir out of convenience, just to keep the house in the family.

[@victoriahouse9969]

Just in front of the car park at the back of the school. Is 2 trees which were planted by King George V and Queen Mary. There there saplings when planted. They are huge trees now.

[@AdamExploresBritain]

Thanks again for that extra information. Might come in useful for future visitors too :)

[@victoriahouse9969]

@@AdamExploresBritain I think they were planted around 1948.

[@AdamExploresBritain]

@@victoriahouse9969 Thanks :)

[@elizabethcornwell4156]

What a shame that some of the grounds have got so overgrown, the cleaning of the Minton tiles could have been done as a school project!

[@AdamExploresBritain]

Hopefully one day they'll be able to clean up a few of those bits that needed it most. It was still a lovely place to be though :)

[@KerryJenkinson-gz9kc]

I wonder what the estimated cost of building that house & developing that property could have been in 1860?

[@AdamExploresBritain]

It would have been something ridiculous. Holford who built it had inherited £1,000,000 alone from his father (in old money!) and I think he was already a wealthy businessman himself. Money would almost have been no object for him really when building the house and grounds. Apparently a million pounds in 1840 is the equivalent of around £130,000,000 in spending power today. He probably inherited land and other property too.

[@tinawetzel3912]

@@AdamExploresBritain 😳Youza!! My mind is blown.

[@ccasey1904]

Looks like it must be awfully dim in there at night.

[@victoriahouse9969]

The ghost is Lady Halford

[@SylviaLaidlow-Petersen]

My friend attended this school!

[@AdamExploresBritain]

That's a fine place to study :)

[@SylviaLaidlow-Petersen]

@@AdamExploresBritain Yes, she has very fond memories of it and is still an active participant in the Old Girls' network!

[@larasharova3721]

В таких старинных и шедевральных замках и эти таблички световые ,, Выход,, - кто придумал вообще правило это?!

[@AdamExploresBritain]

It's because it is now a school so the health and safety laws mean that they have to have these signs in-case there is a fire or something. Thanks for watching my video, Adam :)

[@ccasey1904]

I find myself wondering if it’s a day school or a boarding school? It’s very nice inside but I always find these ginormous places a little weird; people you know nothing about could remain in buildings like this for who knows how long. What does someone DO with all these rooms? Lovely video; thank you for posting.

[@victoriahouse9969]

@ccasey1904 it's both. There is international students who stay all term. There is day girls as well. There is also a primary school on site which is boys and girls.

[@LarryCohen188]

How do we book tickets to visit this place?

[@AdamExploresBritain]

I kept a watch on the 'Holfords of westonbirt Trust' website and also the Westonbirt House Facebook page and at some point they advertised a few house and garden tour dates. It's best to keep an eye on various websites. They don't really do regular visiting, it's just occasional open days. There were several last year if I remember rightly :)

[@alaahamza62]

i love when my Lebanese national tree planted in Europe and England 💚❤

[@AdamExploresBritain]

My favourite tree :)

[@ritasilva185]

A gostei so cute

[@lynderherberts2828]

pretty

[@AdamExploresBritain]

Glad you liked it. Thanks for watching :)

[@victoriahouse9969]

Allowed down to the Headmistress office.

[@telfordrunners3254]

Nice place to go for jogging 👟

[@victoriahouse9969]

It hasn't changed much at all.

[@wellingtonsouzaneves9669]

May favority big mansion

[@AdamExploresBritain]

It is a beauty. Thanks for watching my video, much appreciated. Adam :)

[@davidwright793]

An interesting well made video. Thanks. Personally I found the house to be gloomy and depressing and the grounds melancholy. I went to a boys' boarding school housed in a large eighteenth century country house. It burnt down and was demolished in 1965. Perhaps this clouded my judgement.

[@AdamExploresBritain]

Thanks for your comments. It was a bit dimly lit in parts of the house so that probably doesn't help. I see what you mean though. Very interesting about your old school. One of the thousands of old country houses lost in the last 150 years unfortunately. Thanks for watching, Adam :)

[@Wanamaker1946]

I think it all looks splendid in it’s aged State. Those trees were small then…..the rustication and over growth is probably exactly what the family would’ve been intending to have happen in context to in confectionary nature. It’s is all very charming and picturesque…..as intended.

[@user-yp6kn2uw4k]

It has long been known, that if schools or seminaries are located in luxurious, old mansions, sooner or later these mansions will fall into decay. Such architectural and cultural gems must be under the jurisdiction of the state in order to be saved.🤩😎🧐

[@AdamExploresBritain]

Hopefully this one will be looked after. There are groups of people who are associated with the place and care about its well-being so hopefully they can keep a watchful eye on it :)

[@bartonseagrave9605]

This would make an ideal place to house the Conservative Governments Illegal Immigrants and as they stay in the big house new housing estates could be build on those vast acres of land.

[@johnryman1366]

Learn how to use a camera

[@usmanirfan1260]

Good content

[@AdamExploresBritain]

Thanks for watching. Glad you liked it. Adam :)