Eastbach Court

Eastbach Court is a mid-18th century mansion in English Bicknor built with ashlar stone, featuring a rusticated ground floor and different roof coverings on its front and rear elevations. The two-storey structure includes a cellar, five windows with glazing bar sashes, and a stone entry door with interlaced tracery.

The structure was built in 1524 by Alexander Baynham and acquired in 1616 by Edward Machen, marking the start of the Machen family's ownership. The family retained control of the property across generations until 1883.

The building displays architectural elements spanning different periods, including a cantilevered staircase made from Cuban mahogany and an arch designed by Batty Langley. These details reveal the craftsmanship and taste of successive owners across the centuries.

The house sits in a rural village setting and can be viewed from outside, where the different materials and roof treatments on the front and back are clearly visible. Access to the interior depends on current opening arrangements and should be confirmed beforehand.

Edward Machen, who owned the property from 1832 onward, served as deputy surveyor of the Forest of Dean for over four decades and shaped the region's forest management. His dual role as owner and forest official directly connected the estate to the administration of the adjacent woodland.