Castle Combe Manor House
c. 14th century
Unknown
Castle Combe, England
Castle Combe Manor House
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Castle Combe, located on the southern edge of the Cotswolds between Bath and Chippenham, is often called the prettiest village in England. The eponymous Manor House is located just outside the village, in a wooded valley leading down to the River Bybrook.
From the 11th to the 20th century, twenty-nine different Lords occupied the manor. By the 14th century, the original structure was in ruins; a new home was built on the old Norman foundation. During medieval times, the house was nothing more than a long hall with a large gallery and one or two connected chambers for the family stables. With each new Lord, the old Manor evolved, taking on the architectural fashion of the day. The Victorian flourishes were added in about 1840. During World War II, the house became a hospital. In 1947, it opened as a country club. Today Castle Combe Manor is a highly rated hotel with 45 rooms, Cotswold stone cottages, and converted stables (mews cottages). The grounds include an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, croquet lawn, outdoor pool, and helipad.
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