Gournay Court

Gournay Court is a residential building of red sandstone with Bath stone elements and slate roofs featuring Dutch gables in West Harptree, England. Several rooms display decorated plaster ceilings and well-preserved original fireplaces from the early 17th century.

The house was built around 1600 and served as a military hospital during World War I, with bed capacity growing from fifteen to fifty-seven. After the war it returned to private use and has remained a residence for different families across the centuries.

The ceilings carry Tudor-era plasterwork, including a fireplace with elaborate entablature brought here from Beaudesert in Staffordshire after 1932. Some rooms still show the original wood paneling and carved details that reflect the English country house style of that era.

The property is a private home and cannot be visited inside, but the facade and architecture are visible from the road. Those exploring the Somerset countryside will find it on the edge of West Harptree village.

The gallery in the attic shows a ribbed vaulted roof with acorn bosses, an uncommon decoration for a room of this kind. This solution gives the upper area an almost sacred feel, although it is a secular reception space.

Location: West Harptree

GPS coordinates: 51.30870,-2.63281

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:22