Shute House

Shute House is a Grade II listed building with a 16th-century rectory core that was expanded in the early 1700s, located in Donhead St Mary in Wiltshire. The main house sits within a notable garden composition that combines formal and naturalistic design elements.

The property began as a Church of England rectory and was sold in the 1940s, receiving its name Shute House by 1955. This change marked the start of its life as a private residence with a carefully developed garden.

The gardens were designed by landscape architect Geoffrey Jellicoe in the late 1960s and early 1980s as a significant garden composition. Water channels and ponds shape the grounds and reflect a thoughtful design that brings together nature and human craft.

The property is located in southern Wiltshire near the Dorset border, about 2.5 miles east of Shaftesbury. The house sits in a rural setting with access via local roads through the countryside.

The estate is fed by natural springs whose water flows through carefully crafted channels to grottoes and ponds. These water systems form one of the most striking features of the garden design and show an unusual integration of landscape and planning.

Location: Donhead St Mary

GPS coordinates: 51.01998,-2.13767

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:52