Fairfield House

About

Fairfield is a medieval manor house and the family home of the Acland-Hood family for over eight centuries. The first manor house was built as early as 1166. The house has passed numerous times through the female line, so the family name of the owners has changed from Russell to Vernai (Verney), Palmer, Acland, and finally, Acland-Hood.

The house itself is built to a traditional Elizabethan E-plan, with lime rendering over rubble, dressed by Bath stone. The oldest part of the building is the west wing, dating to the medieval period and retaining its 15th-century roof. The remainder is Elizabethan except for a section of the rear which dates to the 18th century. Near the house stands a barn and granary, stable block, and dovecote, all Grade-II listed.

The house stands beside a 15th-century deer park. Closer at hand is an 18th century walled garden which gives way to an 18th-century landscape garden.

Fairfield is listed in the popular Simon Jenkins book 'England's 1000 Best Houses'.

Guided tours will show the main hallway and three principal rooms of the house, give the main known history of the family across almost 30 generations.
Visitors are welcome to enjoy the gardens at the end of the tour.