Cothay Manor
Encyclopedia
Cothay Manor is a grade one listed medieval house and gardens, located in Stawley
, near Wellington
, Somerset
.
In early 14th century the local lords of the manor were the Bluett and Cothay families who owned both the nearby Greenham Barton
and Cothay Manor.
Built around 1480, it is considered by many to be the most perfect of small, classic, medieval buildings in England today; rating four stars in Simon Jenkins
’ "England’s Thousand Best Houses." The rent for the land surrounding the manor in the medieval era was a pair of silver
spur
s and a rose
. To celebrate the end of the War of the Roses, a red rose (for Lancashire
), and a white rose (for Yorkshire
), were planted on the terrace by Richard Bluett, who was the lord of the manor at the time.
The gardens were laid out in the 1920s by Colonel Reginald Cooper DSO, who was Sissinghurst Castle Garden
owner Sir Harold Nicolson
's oldest friend, having been at school together at Wellington College, Berkshire
, in the Diplomatic Corps
; and were friends of Hidcote Manor Garden
's Major
Lawrence Johnston
and Edward Lutyens. The gardeners exchanged ideas, and in Nicholson's diaries
there is an entry: "Reggie came to stay and advised me on the length of the bowling green." Cooper's larger projects included moving the River Tone
to save his favourite pine trees from erosion. Sissinghurst was laid out in 1932, with one garden writer describing Cothay as the "Sissinghurst of the West Country."
The house then belonged to Sir Francis Cook, 4th Baronet
and during WWII housed much of his famous art collection, dispersed after the war.
The former home of Taunton
MP
Edward du Cann
, in 1993 du Cann sold the property to Alastair and Mary-Anne Robb. Alastair’s great-grandmother Mary-Anne was a plant hunter, with the Wood Spurge
Euphorbia amygdaloides ‘var. robbiae’ named after her, nickname
d "Mrs Robb’s Bonnet" because she had to hide it in her hat to smuggle it through customs. With the whole property and gardens in need of renovation, the gardens were gutted and rebuilt along the original Cooper structure. The Robbs also added new garden areas, including a bog garden in the Oxbow, an Arboretum
planted, and a wild flower meadow sown.
In 2008 and 2009, the manor was the subject of a Channel 4
television programme presented by hotelier Ruth Watson
as part of her Country House Rescue
series.
Stawley
Stawley is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated west of Taunton in the Taunton Deane district. The parish has a population of 305 and includes the village of Kittisford and the hamlets of Appley, Greenham and Tracebridge.-History:The village was recorded in the Domesday Book...
, near Wellington
Wellington, Somerset
Wellington is a small industrial town in rural Somerset, England, situated south west of Taunton in the Taunton Deane district, near the border with Devon, which runs along the Blackdown Hills to the south of the town...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
.
In early 14th century the local lords of the manor were the Bluett and Cothay families who owned both the nearby Greenham Barton
Greenham Barton
Greenham Barton is a 15th century manor house in the civil parish of Stawley, Somerset, England . It has been designated as a Grade I listed building....
and Cothay Manor.
Built around 1480, it is considered by many to be the most perfect of small, classic, medieval buildings in England today; rating four stars in Simon Jenkins
Simon Jenkins
Sir Simon David Jenkins is a British newspaper columnist and author, and since November 2008 has been chairman of the National Trust. He currently writes columns for both The Guardian and London's Evening Standard, and was previously a commentator for The Times, which he edited from 1990 to 1992...
’ "England’s Thousand Best Houses." The rent for the land surrounding the manor in the medieval era was a pair of silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
spur
Spur
A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse to move forward or laterally while riding. It is usually used to refine the riding aids and to back up the natural aids . The spur is used in every equestrian discipline...
s and a rose
Rose
A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
. To celebrate the end of the War of the Roses, a red rose (for Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
), and a white rose (for Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
), were planted on the terrace by Richard Bluett, who was the lord of the manor at the time.
The gardens were laid out in the 1920s by Colonel Reginald Cooper DSO, who was Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Sissinghurst Castle Garden
The garden at Sissinghurst Castle in the Weald of Kent, near Cranbrook, Goudhurst and Tenterden, is owned and maintained by the National Trust. It is among the most famous gardens in England.-History:...
owner Sir Harold Nicolson
Harold Nicolson
Sir Harold George Nicolson KCVO CMG was an English diplomat, author, diarist and politician. He was the husband of writer Vita Sackville-West, their unusual relationship being described in their son's book, Portrait of a Marriage.-Early life:Nicolson was born in Tehran, Persia, the younger son of...
's oldest friend, having been at school together at Wellington College, Berkshire
Wellington College, Berkshire
-Former pupils:Notable former pupils include historian P. J. Marshall, architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, impressionist Rory Bremner, Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge, author Sebastian Faulks, language school pioneer John Haycraft, political journalist Robin Oakley, actor Sir Christopher...
, in the Diplomatic Corps
Diplomatic corps
The diplomatic corps or corps diplomatique is the collective body of foreign diplomats accredited to a particular country or body.The diplomatic corps may, in certain contexts, refer to the collection of accredited heads of mission who represent their countries in another state or country...
; and were friends of Hidcote Manor Garden
Hidcote Manor Garden
Hidcote Manor Garden is a garden located on the outskirts of the small village of Hidcote Bartrim, near Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, England and owned by the National Trust....
's Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Lawrence Johnston
Lawrence Johnston
Major Lawrence Waterbury Johnston was a British soldier and garden creator.- Early years & military career :Johnston was born in Paris, France, into a family of wealthy American East Coast stockbrokers from Baltimore. He went to England to study at Trinity College, Cambridge. Soon after his...
and Edward Lutyens. The gardeners exchanged ideas, and in Nicholson's diaries
Diary
A diary is a record with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct experience. Someone...
there is an entry: "Reggie came to stay and advised me on the length of the bowling green." Cooper's larger projects included moving the River Tone
River Tone
The River Tone is a river in Somerset, England, which is about long. It rises at Beverton Pond near Huish Champflower in the Brendon Hills, and is dammed at Clatworthy Reservoir. The reservoir outfall continues through Taunton and Curry and Hay Moors, which are designated as a Site of Special...
to save his favourite pine trees from erosion. Sissinghurst was laid out in 1932, with one garden writer describing Cothay as the "Sissinghurst of the West Country."
The house then belonged to Sir Francis Cook, 4th Baronet
Sir Francis Cook, 4th Baronet
Sir Francis Ferdinand Maurice Cook, 4th Baronet was a British artist. He was the fourth holder of the Cook Baronetcy. He was the only son of Sir Herbert Cook, inheriting his father's titles in 1939.-Life:...
and during WWII housed much of his famous art collection, dispersed after the war.
The former home of Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
Edward du Cann
Edward du Cann
Sir Edward Dillon Lott du Cann is a retired politician from the United Kingdom. He was a Member of Parliament from 1956–87, and served as Chairman of the Conservative Party from 1965–67, and Chairman of party's 1922 Committee from 1972-84.Du Cann was educated at Colet Court, Woodbridge School and...
, in 1993 du Cann sold the property to Alastair and Mary-Anne Robb. Alastair’s great-grandmother Mary-Anne was a plant hunter, with the Wood Spurge
Wood Spurge
Euphorbia amygdaloides, the wood spurge, is a European plant in the genus Euphorbia.It reproduces both from seeds and root runners that spread underground then sprout new plants. It often grows to a height of 80 cm, and has dark green leaves about 6 cm long...
Euphorbia amygdaloides ‘var. robbiae’ named after her, nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d "Mrs Robb’s Bonnet" because she had to hide it in her hat to smuggle it through customs. With the whole property and gardens in need of renovation, the gardens were gutted and rebuilt along the original Cooper structure. The Robbs also added new garden areas, including a bog garden in the Oxbow, an Arboretum
Arboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
planted, and a wild flower meadow sown.
In 2008 and 2009, the manor was the subject of a Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
television programme presented by hotelier Ruth Watson
Ruth Watson
Ruth Watson , is an English hotelier, broadcaster and food writer.-Early life and career:Born in London, Ruth Watson was educated in London and at Westonbirt School in Gloucestershire...
as part of her Country House Rescue
Country House Rescue
Country House Rescue is an observational documentary series which airs on British terrestrial television channel, Channel 4. The series has also aired on BBC Canada, ABC1 in Australia and Living in New Zealand....
series.