Acton Court, Bristol: Most Original Tudor House In Britain

Acton Court in Bristol is one of the best preserved mid-sixteenth century houses in the country, according to English Heritage.

The magnificent manor house is Grade I listed - meaning it’s of significant historic interest.

The Poyntz family owned the property from 1364 until 1680.

In 1535, one of England’s most colourful kings, Henry VIII, came to stay at Acton Court with his second wife, Anne Boleyn, while on his summer Progress around the West Country.

The owner of Acton Court, Nicholas Poyntz, wanted to impress his sovereign, so for Henry’s pleasure, he built a magnificent new East Wing on to the existing moated manor house.

The new wing was a splendid testament to Nicholas Poyntz’s loyalty to his King.

He went to immense trouble and expense to impress Henry, decorating the state apartments lavishly and fashionably.

He was well rewarded as it is thought he was knighted during the royal visit.

Today, the East Wing which was built in just nine months comprises most of what remains at Acton Court.

It offers a rare example of 16th century royal state apartments and some decorations which are said to be the finest of their kind in England.

Also surviving, hidden in the masonry until it was discovered during conservation work in 1994, is the King’s “en suite” garderobe, or privy.

Sir Nicholas went on building at Acton Court until his death in 1556.

The surviving Eastern half of his long gallery can still be admired.

It was a daring construction with large windows and a painted frieze of biblical text and moralising verses in Latin.

During archaeological excavations at Acton Court, there were many exciting finds, thought to be associated with King Henry’s visit.

These included examples of the finest Venetian glass of its time, Spanish ceramics, and some of the earliest clay tobacco pipes yet discovered.

Dating from the late 16th century, these support the view that Sir Walter Raleigh gave one of the first demonstrations in England of the technique of smoking during a visit to Acton Court.

One item of particular importance was found by chance in a nettle patch next to the building.

It is a Cotswold limestone sundial designed by the royal horologist, Nicholas Kratzer, dated 1520.

The ancient sundial is made from a 350 mm cube of oolitic Cotswold limestone and has four vertical dials (on its north, south, east and west faces), a horizontal dial and a reclining dial facing south.

All the dials are still visible except on the west face, which has been crudely hacked away.

The sockets for the six gnomons survive, although the gnomons themselves are missing and appear to have been chiselled or wrenched out. 

The sundial (pictured below) is of national interest since it is the earliest dated polyhedral sundial to have been recorded anywhere in England. 

The Poyntz family owned Acton Court from 1364 until 1680 when the direct line of succession ended and the house was sold.

It was subsequently reduced in size and converted for use as a tenant farmhouse. 

The building’s fortunes declined to the point of dilapidation in the 20th century.

It is due in part to this neglect that Acton Court was left largely untouched and as a result a unique Tudor building has been preserved virtually intact.

In the 16th Century, Acton Court had grand and extensive formal gardens.

Today, the gardens and grounds are part of the Scheduled Monument and as such are subject to limitations regarding works: digging especially is discouraged.

Natural meadows that support native wildlife species have proved to be a good solution for the site.

Head Gardener, Nic Jones cultivates a walled wildflower meadow and orchard, Old English and wild roses.

He has also created an organic kitchen garden on medieval lines, which produces quality vegetables, culinary and medicinal herbs.

The remaining 12 acres of grounds are managed as meadow and rough grassland which supports the owl population and the breeding barn owls in particular.

Numerous native species of grasses and plants, some now quite rare in the UK, are featured and especially types that would have flourished in Tudor times.

In the grounds, visitors can see full-sized cast-iron sculptures of the pigs and cows that would have supplied the kitchens in Tudor times.

These are the work of acclaimed British sculptress Dido Crosby, who has also created an owl sculpture that hangs in the entrance building.

The house has lovely reviews on TripAdvisor, a recent visitor said: “A must for history fans - an entire wing of a Tudor building built in anticipation of a 2 day visit by Henry VIII and his new Queen Ann.

”It's been almost untouched since then as the estate fell into disrepair and was used as farm storage - so original Tudor wall paintings, covered for centuries in limewash have been exposed, along with Tudor panelling and Henry's very own private loo!”

Another person added: “It has a fascinating history and to be able to look at the bare bones of the place and see how it has evolved over the centuries was a real treat.

”The tenant farmers who altered it to suit their needs over many years ensured its very survival and left it totally unmodernised and unspoilt.”

This year, Acton Court is now closed to the public. 

Details of their 2024 openings will be published in the new year - entry will cost around £10 per adult and it includes a tour of the gardens.

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