Chavenage House

History

The estate of Chavenage was sold to Edward Stephens of Eastington in 1564. He built the house in the Elizabethan style, adding large windows to the south of the porch, much of the glass being obtained from redundant churches and monasteries in the area. On Edward's death, the estate passed to his son Richard and, on his death, to his second wife Anne, before his eldest son Nathaniel Stephens inherited it.

During the Civil War, Nathaniel Stevens raised troops and supported the Roundheads, and later became a member of Cromwell's parliament. Cromwell visited Chavenage House and Stephens was one of the signatories of Charles I's death warrant, but is said to have died of remorse soon afterwards. It is also recounted that on the day of the Nathaniel's death, his ghost was seen leaving the house in a coach driven by a headless coachman dressed like the hapless king. The house is reputed to be one of the nation's most haunted homes.

In 1944, the house was requisitioned and housed American troops prior to the Normandy landings in France.

The house

The house is an Elizabethan manor house and is a Grade I listed building. It was built mainly in 1576 by Edward Stephens on the site of an older building. It was enlarged in the seventeenth century and further altered in the eighteenth century by the Rev Richard Stephens. It has an E-shaped plan with a porch at the centre of the east side. It is constructed of rubble stone with a stone slate roof and has two storeys and attics.

The interior has a former open great hall, but this has now had a ceiling installed, with an altered minstrels' gallery over a screen. This is sixteenth century as is the Renaissance style fireplace and the panelling and Gothic fireplace in the dining room. Other notable features of the house are the two tapestry rooms Cromwell's and Ireton's Room; the stained glass windows in the Great Hall; the Oak Room which has elaborate 1590 panelling. Additionally, there is an Edwardian wing, featuring a sprung-floored Ballroom.

Close to the house is the family chapel which is included in the Grade I listing. It has a tower, built as a folly in the seventeenth century, with two stages, stepped diagonal buttresses and a parapet with embattlements. The main fabric of the chapel is eighteenth century and it has an undercover link to the house.

Visiting Chavenage

The house is open to the public on a limited basis. It is also available for use for conferences and functions and as a wedding venue.

Chavenage in culture

Chavenage has been used in films and for television programmes, including Barry Lyndon, The Ghost of Greville Lodge, a Hercule Poirot story The Mysterious Affair at Styles; a 'Gotcha' for Noel's House Party, The Barchester Chronicles; Berkeley Square; Cider with Rosie; Grace & Favour; The House of Eliott; Casualty and Dracula. From 2008 the house featured as Candleford Manor in the BBC's Lark Rise to Candleford. Scenes from Bonekickers, Tess of the D'Urbervilles, starring Eddie Redmayne and In Love with Barbara were shot at Chavenage in 2008. Recent credits include Rosamunde Pilcher's The Four Seasons, the BBC's Nightwatch and the CBBC's series Sparticles. Two productions have be shot at Chavenage in 2013, 'The Unknown Heart. based on an idea by Rosamunde Pilcher as well the historical drama 'New Worlds (Channel 4), starring Jamie Dornan. Chavenage is Trenwith House in the new adaption on Winston Graham's Poldark (2015 TV Series), starring Aidan Turner.