Roundway House

Roundway House is a Grade II listed country house in Roundway, on the north-eastern edge of Devizes in Wiltshire, south-west England. It has been on the National Heritage List for England since 19 March 1962. It is a private home rather than a ticketed attraction, so it helps to know what to expect before you go.

What is Roundway House?

The present house is what remains of a much larger estate, Roundway Park, also known as New Park. The main mansion was built between 1777 and 1783 for J. Sutton, to a design usually attributed to James Wyatt, one of the leading Georgian architects. T. Finden remodelled it in 1841–42 for E. F. Colston, and the Colston family held the estate until around 1948. After a change of owners, the mansion was pulled down in 1955.

Two sides of the late 18th-century stable court survived, and these are what the listing protects. The former service buildings were converted into a residence, and the surrounding grounds were later split into several properties and farmland.

Can you visit Roundway House?

There is no tour, ticketing or fixed opening time. The house is privately owned, so entering the grounds is not possible. The best approach is to look from the surrounding lanes and public rights of way, while respecting the residents' privacy. You will not see the full scale of the old mansion, because the main block no longer exists.

What else is nearby?

• Swiss Cottage – a mid-19th-century shooting lodge built for the Colston family of Roundway Park, also Grade II listed.
• Roundway Down – the hills north of Devizes, known for the 1643 Civil War battle fought there.
• Devizes – a market town with a market square, a castle site and the Kennet and Avon Canal, including the Caen Hill flight of locks, a short drive away.
• Roundway Hospital – a Victorian psychiatric hospital (open 1851–1995), a separate site that should not be confused with Roundway House.

How do you get there?

Roundway lies roughly two kilometres from the centre of Devizes. A car or bike is easiest, and buses link Devizes with Bath, Swindon and Salisbury. The nearest railway stations are Pewsey and Chippenham, with onward bus or taxi connections. On foot, it is about a 30-minute walk from the town centre through quiet suburban streets.

When should you go?

Seeing the building from outside takes only a few minutes, so combine it with a day in Devizes and the surrounding downs. Spring and summer are best for walking in the hills.

Frequently asked questions

Is Roundway House open to visitors? No. It is a private residence with no public access to the interior.

Who designed the original mansion? Roundway Park was built in 1777–83 to a design attributed to James Wyatt.

What happened to the main house? It was demolished in 1955. The stable court survives and is now a home.

Is Roundway House the same as Roundway Hospital? No. The hospital was a separate complex in the same parish, in use from 1851 to 1995.