In the heart of the Cotswolds, near Moreton-in-Marsh, Oxfordshire, stands Chastleton House, a magnificent estate that remained in the same family for over 400 years. Built in the early 1600s as a statement of wealth and power, the property is now a public venue offering a rare glimpse into British heritage.
The house was originally constructed by Walter Jones, a lawyer who purchased the land from Robert Catesby in the early 17th century. Jones razed the existing structure and completed the new mansion in 1612, aiming to establish himself as a country gentleman. The estate passed through generations of the Jones family, with the last direct descendant, Arthur Jones, making structural enhancements in the 19th century. After his death, the property went to a distant cousin, John Henry-Whitmore Jones.
In 1991, the National Heritage Memorial Fund purchased Chastleton House and transferred it to the National Trust. Due to the high cost of maintenance, the decision was made to preserve rather than restore the property, leaving most original contents untouched. Repairs were carried out only where necessary over six years, and the house opened to the public in 1998.
One of the house's most treasured features is the Long Gallery, which boasts the longest-surviving barrel-vaulted ceiling in Britain. The room also contains rare mask heads from the 1600s, believed to ward off evil spirits. Outside, the Jacobean Pleasure Garden, known as the Best Garden, and the Wilderness Walk offer visitors stunning views of the house and seasonal landscapes.
Visitors have praised the property as a 'time capsule' that shows how things truly were without Victorian alterations. The house opens from mid-March, with doors opening at 1pm.
