Baddesley Clinton

Baddesley Clinton is a moated medieval manor house in Warwickshire, central England, within easy reach of Solihull. The house is Grade I listed and the site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The National Trust looks after the house, gardens and parkland, and all of it is open to visitors.

What is Baddesley Clinton and where did it come from?

The house sits about 13 km north-west of Warwick, in country that was once part of the Forest of Arden, which was cleared for farmland in the Middle Ages. The first buildings probably date from the 13th century. The manor came to the Clinton family by marriage, and one of them, or an immediate successor, built the first moated house here. In 1438 the estate was sold to John Brome, a wealthy Warwick lawyer. Much of what you see today dates from his time, built from stone quarried on the estate itself.

Who lived here?

In 1517 the property passed by marriage to the Ferrers family, who stayed for several centuries. Henry Ferrers, known as "the Antiquary", inherited in 1564 and reworked large parts of the older house. The Ferrers remained Catholic through the years of persecution, and the house became a place to shelter priests. Thomas Walker bought the estate in 1940 and saved it from ruin, and it passed to the National Trust in 1980.

What will you see?

• Priest holes. The National Trust says there are three to find on the house tour. One is a former medieval sewer under the kitchen, a narrow, dark, stone-lined passage. The hiding places are credited to Nicholas Owen, and the best-documented episode is a raid on a gathering of Jesuit priests in 1591.
• The moat and house. Water surrounds the walls, and the stone front is best seen from the bridge.
• Gardens. The oldest surviving feature is a set of fishponds dug in 1444. The park and gardens are both Grade II registered.

How do you get there and when should you go?

The address is Rising Lane, Baddesley Clinton, Warwickshire B93 0DQ, and a car is the easiest way in. Opening hours, ticket prices and any guided-tour-only periods change by season, so check the National Trust website before you set out. Late spring and summer show the gardens at their best. Allow two to three hours for the visit. Packwood House, another National Trust property, lies nearby, and a walking route of about five miles links the two.

Frequently asked questions

Does the National Trust own Baddesley Clinton?

Yes. The house, park and gardens belong to the Trust, which has cared for them since 1980.

Can you really see priest holes?

Yes. Three are pointed out on the tour, including the former medieval sewer beneath the kitchen.

Is the house a listed building?

Yes. It is Grade I listed and the site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The park and gardens are Grade II registered.

Can you combine the visit with another site?

Yes. A circular walk of roughly five miles connects Baddesley Clinton with Packwood House.