Edmondsham House is built on a site mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086. Now, it’s a sturdy Tudor-Georgian building which has been owned by the same family, the Smiths, since the 16th century. 

Tours are small and run by Julia Smith, the lady of the house, who will show you clothes and other items that used to belong to previous residents and explain the difference between types of parasols used for going on walks and riding in carriages. Suddenly, a 200-year-old hat seems like a perfectly normal thing to find in the wardrobe...

There are several architectural features outside to help you imagine the house’s place in history, like the Victorian octagon dairy or the medieval cock-fighting pit. The house also has a walled garden and some unusual trees and bulbs in the grounds. There are occasional courses on organic gardening for the keen gardener; ring ahead to check for details or organise a group visit.

Although it’s not part of the house tour, the St Nicholas Church just opposite Edmondsham House still has several of its medieval features and is a good example of an old estate church.