Highnam Court

Highnam Court is a historic country house in the village of Highnam, Gloucestershire, a short distance from Gloucester and not far from Tewkesbury. It holds Grade I listed status, the highest level of protection in England, and its surrounding gardens are known for an elaborate 19th-century water garden built in artificial rockwork.

What is Highnam Court?

The house dates from the 17th century. Local historical accounts say it was built in 1658 for William Cooke, son of Sir Robert Cooke, after the earlier building was damaged during the English Civil War. It belongs to the era in which the classic English country house took shape, and its Grade I rating places it among the most important buildings in the country.

Who owned the estate?

The estate changed hands several times. It first belonged to the Cooke family and then passed to the Guise family. In the mid-19th century, around 1838, it was bought by Thomas Gambier Parry, a member of the Gambier-Parry family. Some sources give 1837, so the exact year is stated differently depending on the account. Parry was a fresco painter and art collector, and his son was the composer Hubert Parry, who later inherited the property.

In 1977 the house, the gardens and a small part of the park passed into separate ownership from the rest of the former estate.

What makes the gardens special?

The gardens are today's main draw. In the 1840s Thomas Gambier Parry commissioned James Pulham, a well-known maker of artificial rockwork and water features, to lay out extensive new grounds. The result was a large Pulhamite water garden, built from carefully shaped artificial stone that imitates natural rock. Historic England describes the whole as largely mid-19th-century gardens with an extensive Pulhamite water garden, plus a landscape park associated with the 17th-century house. The park is listed at Grade II.

By 1874 the gardens were regarded as among the finest in Britain.

What happened to the gardens in the 20th century?

By the beginning of the 20th century the gardens had become overgrown, and they remained that way until 1994. In that year Roger Head bought the estate and began restoring the garden layout. The work continued over the following years, and the gardens have been opened to visitors.

Is Highnam Court worth a visit?

It suits anyone interested in English architecture, landscape gardens and Victorian heritage. It also makes a good addition to a trip around Gloucester and Tewkesbury, both of which offer cathedrals, old streets and riverside walks of their own.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Highnam Court? In the village of Highnam in Gloucestershire, England, close to Gloucester and Tewkesbury.

When was the house built? In the 17th century. Local sources give 1658 as the year of construction.

Who was Thomas Gambier Parry? A fresco painter and art collector who bought the estate in the mid-19th century. He also had James Pulham lay out the gardens.

Is the house a protected monument? Yes. It is Grade I listed, the highest protection category in England.

Are the gardens open to visitors? After the restoration that began in 1994, the gardens are opened to the public. Check local listings for visiting dates before you go.