Kingston Bagpuize House

The family home of  Virginia Grant and her children Elizabeth and Alexander, Kingston Bagpuize House is open to the public on selected days and for group visits throughout the year on weekdays by appointment.  Licenced for civil ceremonies.  The house and grounds are also available for wedding receptions, corporate and charity events and filming.

Originally built in the 1660’s the house was remodelled in the early 1700’s in brick with stone quoins and surrounds to the large Georgian style windows.  There is an elegant symmetry to all sides of the house.

The most prominent feature inside Kingston Bagpuize House is the cantilevered staircase in Scots pine and oak dating from the 18th century remodeling.  The well proportioned panelled rooms have some good furniture and pictures.

The gardens as seen today were principally influenced by Miss Marlie Raphael the owner from 1939 until 1976.  She added to the existing formal gardens by creating the Woodland Garden and Shrub Border, planting many unusual species of to trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs including snowdrops give year round interest and colour.  A raised terrace walk leads to an 18th century pavilion with views both across the lawns to the house and over the gardens.
In 1995, with her husband Francis, Virginia Grant began work on the restoration of the gardens.  Since 2003 two areas of woodland have been restored and in February visitors to the gardens can enjoy large areas of naturalized snowdrops.  Planting of new trees and shrubs continues both to replace specimens lost and also to extend the range of plants the visitor can enjoy.