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Large Holiday Cottage:Stonnwall Manor has been described as one of the most exquisite examples of an Elizabethan stone built manor. Set within a local preservation area, within several acres of its own private landscaped gardens. This four hundred year old impressively large holiday cottage hides behind tall stone walls, hedges and tall trees. The house is a Grade I listed treasure and is the last remaining intact manor in Frome.
Entrance is through electronic gates and down a sweeping gravel driveway flanked by 500 year old giant beech trees. Stonnwall Manor has kept almost all of its original features including mullioned and leaded windows, decorative plaster ceiling mouldings, stone gabled roofs, historic fireplaces, 15th century oak panelling, oak stripped floors, large beamed ceilings, roof trusses and original entrance doors.
A recent refit sympathetically integrates the latest technology such as digital keyless entry systems, stained glass windows that become backlit at night and communal rooms that automatically light up on entry. Thermostatic central heating in every room including corridors.
This large holiday cottage is arranged over three floors with a total of nine double bedrooms including a large family bedroom. Two bedrooms are on the ground floor and ideal for the infirm. This allows luxury accommodation for a group of nineteen guests, a further eight guests can take accommodation in the coach House nearby if required. This large self catering house boasts five reception rooms, three bathrooms, two kitchens, seven showers, four WC's and a host of other communal rooms.
There are plenty of activities that can be enjoyed selfcatering at the manor house. Enjoy afternoon tea on the elevated gazebo and enjoy the views of the grounds. Take a walk around the estates formal gardens, pond and rockeries or enjoy a game of croquet on the elevated croquet lawn. Try a barbecue on the original Elizabethan patio where the barbecue, utensils and garden furniture are set ready to go. We know what you want to make your holiday perfect.
The manor's underground bomb shelter was once just a boring room. With help from the locals this has now been themed and decorated as a 1940s living room to give you an idea of life during the war. There are also several pleasant walks that lead from Stonnwall Manor to the town centre which pass many of the delightful cottages in Frome.
Stonnwall Manor is ideally located to explore many of the top attractions in Somerset including Longleat House with Britain's largest Safari Park, Stonehenge, Bath, Cheddar caves and gorge, Stourhead House and Gardens, Glastonbury, Wookey Hole Caves and Wells Cathedral to name but a few.
Tour:
After entering through a large wooden entrance door you are greeted by the lobby with panelled ceiling. Its plush chairs, tables with gold leaf fittings, wall hangings and framed oil paintings start with a style that is continued throughout the house. Below the impressive grand staircase you will find a cupboard which contains a humorous living room with doll sized period furniture. The impressive galleried oak staircase ascends to both the east and west wings. On the first floor you will find the panelled library with its extensive wall to wall book collection and large decorative bibles. There is even an entire section for children. A reading table overlooking the courtyard sets the mood. It is in the library that you will also find an extensive collection of board games for adults and children too.
Many years ago the drawing room was opened up to the lounge, this now offers a large open plan living room which is great for large social gatherings. Large Elizabethan style thrones face each other across an oversized chessboard coffee table with hand carved giant chess pieces. To the delight of many a secret door in the panelling leads to the central staircase. At the lounge end, leather chesterfield sofas and stools are arranged in a square around two coffee tables. This allows every guest to enjoy drinks and converse with one and other. The room boasts two original inglenook fire places and Tudor rose embellished ceilings. Several window seats provide views over the lawn, central to these is an authentic Manor House "must have" an ornamental full size suit of armour. In the east corner is a full size Grandfather clock which cleverly conceals the music system. At bewilderment to guests you can open the doors and control music to the lounge and dining room.
The main features of the dining room are the walk-in fireplace which is back lit in red with original bread oven and an original mahogany block floor which has been lovingly restored and polished. An enormous rosewood dining table with central tier for displaying food sets this dining room apart. Unlike traditional long tables where guest at one end can't see or hear guests at the other - this square shape allows all 19 guests to see and interact with each other. With rich red walls adorned with wall tapestries, drapes, torches flintlock guns and authentic animal heads (not real). Plus window seat and a gothic style chandelier hanging from a central beam crowning this amazing table. This room is just ideal for a banquet, murder mystery party, medieval feast or simple get together meal. Here you really can be Lord of the Manor.
Suitably located near the Dining Room is a farmhouse style kitchen that is well equipped and large enough to prepare a five course meal for twenty. Matching rosewood cabinetry has been overlaid with red granite to provide nice clean work surfaces. Complimenting modern granite sink and swivel tap provide a traditional look but modern feel. A large but simple to operate six burner gas range and double oven for cooking with overhead extraction. The kitchen has pleasant views over the enclosed back garden, ideal for monitoring toddlers in confinement from the Manors main sprawling grounds.
Travel around the corner and you'll find the breakfast room with an "L" shaped breakfast bar, matching rosewood cabinets containing all the crockery, plus a six foot shelved cupboard ideal for storing all the supplies in one area at a glance. Continue through an arch to find the Old Pantry with a Welsh dresser and a larger group friendly fridge.
Continue through the pantry past the second downstairs W/C and into a second utility type kitchen. This area is more functional with large restaurant style splash backs. It is in this kitchen that you find the deep freezer, dishwasher and washing machine amongst other appliances. It is an ideal place for outside caterers to organize their food, or to chuck all the messy dishes for later keeping the main kitchen clean. Opposite the second kitchen is the games room with table football, air hockey, darts and other games to entertain children and 'the boys' of the group.
The Music Room is decorated with ornamental instruments on the walls a piano, a window seat overlooking the driveway, central chandelier and stone fireplace. It also houses an ingenious full size double bass that opens up to reveal a fully useable cocktail cabinet, ready with decanters and glasses to great surprise of many a guest. This room is ideal for pre dinner drinks and when night comes a double bed, hidden inside a panelled wall, pulls down to instantly convert this room into a bedroom.
From the music room you can access the ground floor of the west wing. Along a corridor and into the rear lobby is the old servants' quarters. From here you will find a double bedroom and bathroom. Just like the other bedrooms, this bedroom has a view of the gardens and a double four poster bed. The bathroom is fitted with a traditional looking but modern slipper bath, separate shower cubicle, wash basin and toilet. Stone walls, dark wood panelled ceiling and clean wall to wall wipe clean synthetic flooring set off the matching pure white brand new conveniences.
All the bedrooms have their own individual and unique theme from ships to dogs to flowers, there is always a room for someone in your party. The teddy bear room has been a favourite of adults and children. It contains two spot lit cabinets with over 100 teddy bears each wearing very detailed different outfits eg doctor, postman, butcher etc.
All bedrooms feature four poster beds and window seats. Most of the bedrooms have their own wash basin, some have shower rooms and if not close to a shower room or bathroom. Most bedrooms are very large, some are almost grand suites with; fireplace, walk in wardrobe, writing desk, dressing table, occasional chairs, seating bench etc, one even has a grandfather clock.
There are three main bathrooms, all fitted with power showers, two contain traditional style luxury slipper bath and one contains a bidet.
This outstanding holiday home accommodation is ideally set up for large groups self catering, superb for clubs, organizations or a big family. With that personal home from home touch without all the hassle of hotels, motels, bedandbreakfast and apartments where everyone is split up.
Interesting Fact: The beautiful wisteria plant which encapsulates the whole front of this large cottage is probably the largest you'll ever see on a private house. It mentioned in ancient gardening book (on display in the Library) as one of the first successfully blooming wisteria plants in Britain.
The old Coach House on the estate is an additional large holiday cottage that can be booked with Stonnwall Manor to sleep an extra eight guests. This allows accommodations for a total of 27 guests (19+8).
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