Built / Designed For: 3rd Lord Manners

House & Family History: Avon Tyrrell was built as a calendar house; it has 365 windows, 52 rooms, 12 chimneys, and seven external doors. During World War I the house was used as a convalescent home for injured New Zealand soldiers; in World War II Avon Tyrrell was requisitioned by the government and assigned to the British Army for use an intelligence gathering post. In 1946 the 4th Lord Manners gave Avon Tyrrell to the nation by placing the house (but not the estate) into a trust for the benefit of the "youth of the nation." The National Association of Girls Clubs and Mixed Clubs (today UK Youth) has let the house and immediate grounds from the trust since the late 1940s. In 1949 Princess Elizabeth (later Elizabeth II) officially opened Avon Tyrrell as a center for outdoor learning and personal development for young people.

Comments: Pevsner called Lethaby's Avon Tyrrell (one of his first commissions) "one of the finest houses of the date in England."

Country Life: XXVII, 846 plan, 1910.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Grade II

Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSES: John Tyrrell, until 1602. Bennett Wynchecombe, 17th century. Sir John Webb, 1st Bt., until 1680; Sir John Webb, 2nd Bt., 1680-1700; Sir John Webb, 3rd Bt., 1700-45; Sir Thomas Webb, 4th Bt., 1745-63; Sir John Webb, 5th Bt., 18th century. Edward Buckley Batson, 18th century. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: John Manners-Sutton, 3rd Baron Manners, 1891-1927; Francis Manners, 4th Baron Manners, 1927-46.

Current Ownership Type: Charity / Nonprofit

Primary Current Ownership Use: Offices

Ownership Details: Headquarters of UK Youth

House Open to Public: Grounds Only - By Appointment

Phone: 01425-672-347

Fax: 01425-675-108

Website: https://avontyrrell.org.uk/

Historic Houses Member: No