Winterbourne

Winterbourne House and Garden in Birmingham is an Edwardian Arts and Crafts home with a historic garden, set in the suburb of Edgbaston and owned by the University of Birmingham. It is one of the few places in the city where you can walk through the rooms of a family house from the early 1900s and then step outside into a period garden that now doubles as the university's botanic garden.

What is Winterbourne?

John Sutton Nettlefold and his wife Margaret, part of the industrial family behind Guest, Keen & Nettlefold, commissioned the house in 1903. Local architect Joseph Lancaster Ball designed and built it, and it was finished in 1904. Margaret laid out the garden herself, drawing on the books and designs of Gertrude Jekyll, the celebrated English garden designer.

The Nettlefolds moved away in 1919, and two more families lived here afterwards. The last private owner died in 1944 and left house and grounds to the university, which has used them ever since for botanical research, teaching and student recreation.

What is its heritage status?

The house is a Grade II listed building, first listed on 8 July 1982. The garden has its own entry on Historic England's Register of Parks and Gardens (list entry 1001702), described as an extensive Arts and Crafts garden of 1903 created around the contemporary house. Following restoration, the garden received Grade II protection in 2008.

What will you see?

The house first opened to visitors in 2010. Its rooms have been put back to look as they did when the Nettlefolds lived here, and two floors of exhibition space explain the family's life and the place Winterbourne holds in the local community.

The garden keeps its original layout, with newer areas added for teaching and plant conservation. It suits a relaxed stroll, especially if you like gardens or early twentieth-century architecture. Winterbourne is also a partner garden of the Royal Horticultural Society.

How do you get there?

Winterbourne sits in Edgbaston, close to the University of Birmingham's main campus and a few kilometres from the city centre. The journey from the centre usually takes a quarter of an hour or so by public transport or car. Opening hours and ticket prices change with the season, so check winterbourne.org.uk before you go.

When should you visit?

The garden is at its best from spring to early autumn when the borders are in flower, while the house and its displays work well on a wet day. Allow around two hours for both.

Frequently asked questions

Who built Winterbourne House? It was built in 1903-1904 for John and Margaret Nettlefold, designed by Joseph Lancaster Ball.

Is Winterbourne run by the National Trust? No. It belongs to the University of Birmingham, which runs the botanic garden and the historic house museum.

Is it the same place as Selly Manor? No. Selly Manor is a medieval manor house in Bournville and a separate attraction. Winterbourne is in Edgbaston.

Who designed the garden? Margaret Nettlefold, inspired by Gertrude Jekyll's work.