Woodchester Mansion
Woodchester Mansion is a 19th Century Victorian Gothic masterpiece abandoned during construction in the mid-1860s. Hidden in a secluded Cotswold valley, Woodchester Mansion is untouched by time. The Grade I Listed Building will never be completed. It is cared for by the Woodchester Mansion Trust, who promote training courses in heritage skills such as stonemasonry at the Mansion.
Visitors can walk through the unique and astonishing building, understand how it was constructed, and discover why Woodchester Mansion was never finished. The Gothic architectural style is simple and beautiful, and the carvings are amongst the finest of their kind in the world. They include fantastic gargoyles and over forty stone animals, which fascinate young children.
Woodchester Mansion is home to Greater and Lesser horseshoe bats, both endangered species in Britain. The bats have been the subject of a long-term study spanning nearly sixty years. Visitors can watch the Mansion bats in their roosts live on our ‘Batcams’ in the Bat Observatory. Those who want to learn more about these fascinating creatures can join one of our evening Bat Experiences.
The Mansion is hidden in the 400-acre Woodchester Park which is managed by the National Trust. The Park offers visitors the perfect opportunity to explore unspoilt woodland and enjoy native wildlife including deer, badgers, buzzards, kingfishers and woodpeckers. Children can explore the play trail. The ancient woodland is home to bluebells, wild garlic and rare species of orchid.
