House & Family History: Snowshill Manor was the property of Winchcombe Abbey from 821 until 1539, when the Abbey was seized by King Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Between 1539 and 1919 Snowshill had a number of tenants and owners, until it was purchased by Charles Paget Wade, an architect, collector, artist-craftsman, poet, and heir to a family fortune, who restored the 16th century Cotswolds manor house as the repository of his collection. In 1951 Wade gave the House and its collections to the National Trust.
Collections: Charles Paget Wade collected a little bit of almost everything and deposited it all at his house at Snowshill. Today his enormous collection, focused on craftsmanship, includes toys, musical instruments, bicycles, and 26 suits of 17th to 19th century Japanese Samurai warrior armor.
Garden & Outbuildings: Snowshill has an Arts & Crafts style garden with terraces and ponds laid out by Charles Paget Wade, in collaboration with Arts & Crafts architect Mackay Baillie-Scott, between 1920 and 1923 as a series of outdoor rooms. Today the garden is run on organic principles.
Architect: Mackay Hugh Baillie Scott
Date: 1920-23Country Life: LXII, 470, 1927.
House Listed: Grade II*
Park Listed: Grade II
Past Seat / Home of: Charles Paget Wade, 20th century.
Current Ownership Type: The National Trust
Primary Current Ownership Use: Visitor Attraction
House Open to Public: Yes
Phone: 01386-852-410
Fax: 0138-842-822
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Historic Houses Member: No