Iford Manor, Manor house in Freshford, England
Iford Manor is a stone country house situated on a south-facing slope in the Frome valley, incorporating architectural styles from different historical periods. The estate features formal Italian gardens with terraces, colonnades, and water features arranged across the grounds.
The property appeared in the Domesday Book and began as a wool factory before passing through several local families including the Hungerfords and Chandlers. In the 19th century Harold Peto acquired the estate and redesigned the gardens to create the Italian landscape we see today.
The Italian-style gardens reflect the vision of designer Harold Peto, with columned walkways, statues, and water fountains arranged across the grounds. Visitors naturally move through these designed spaces at a leisurely pace, discovering carefully placed details throughout their walk.
The gardens are open to visitors from spring through early autumn, with food and beverage facilities available on limited days during this period. Planning your visit around these operating days ensures you can fully experience the grounds and facilities.
The roof spaces provide summer shelter for greater horseshoe bats, a rare species, leading to special conservation status for the site. This resident population makes the property an important location for bat protection, though visitors rarely glimpse them during their stay.
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