Sandhill Park, Historic country house in Bishops Lydeard, England
Sandhill Park is a country house in Bishops Lydeard, Somerset, England, protected as a Grade II* listed building. It features a symmetrical facade with classical proportions and several wings arranged around a central block.
The house was built around 1720 by John II Periam, a Member of Parliament, as a private residence. It was later used as a prisoner of war camp during World War I and then as a military hospital during World War II.
From 1919, Somerset County Council used the property to care for children with disabilities, which changed how the building and its grounds were arranged over time. The layout still reflects this long period of institutional use rather than private occupation.
The building is not open to the public at present, as the site is being converted into private residences. It is worth checking the current situation before making a visit, as access to the grounds may change once work is complete.
During World War II, the grounds held a military hospital that treated over 1,000 neurological patients in tent wards set up across the estate. This scale of medical activity was unusual for a rural property of this size.
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