33-509: The Manor House is a 17th-century country house hotel in Castle Combe , Wiltshire in the south of England. The Manor House is noteworthy for several reasons throughout history. Its land is the site of a Norman castle settlement which hosted a number of Lords, the most famous of whom was Sir John Oldcastle , the figure on which the character of Sir John Falstaff is based in the late 16th-century Shakespeare play Henry IV, Part 1 . It
66-547: A " tourist honeypot ", and "the prettiest village in England". The village is in two parts: one is in the narrow valley of By Brook , while Upper Castle Combe is on higher land to the east, on the B4039 road connecting Chippenham and Chipping Sodbury . South of the upper village is the Castle Combe motor racing circuit . A castle once stood in the area, but was demolished centuries ago. A Roman villa once stood about three miles from
99-508: A cemetery. Neolithic flint tools and Iron Age brooches were also discovered not far from the villa, in 1985. The settlement was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086, with 33 households; the Lord was Humphrey de l'Isle. The village takes its name from the 12th-century castle which stood about 1 ⁄ 3 mile (500 m) to the north. The site where the castle once stood now only contains
132-447: A general motorsport theme and exhibit show stands, market stalls, stunt demonstrations, classic displays and on certain days the circuit is able to hold track sessions. Since 2001, Rallyday , an annual demonstration event for rally cars, has also been held. Motoring shows Top Gear and Fifth Gear have used the circuit to race or test cars on. The Under 17 Car Club have been using the track since 1976 to host events where members of
165-531: A part of it was used as a hospital. In 1947, the owner of the Castle Combe estate sold the houses of the estate, and The Manor House became a country club. After 18 months, the club left the premises, and the house was shortly thereafter sold to Bobbie Allen, an amateur hotelier, and her husband (the Major). Over time, they established The Manor House as a country house hotel, run almost as a club. One source indicates that
198-599: A resettlement camp for Polish ex-service personnel. The property was returned to the Gorst family in 1948; with the Bristol Motorcycle & Light Car Club, they organized the first race in July 1950. By 1955 the property was divided and sold. Between 1956 and 1961, the circuit was used for motorcycle racing. Some years later, the circuit was converted to motor racing. Castle Combe has staged many different motorsport disciplines over
231-452: Is based on the perimeter track of a former World War II airfield , and was opened for racing in 1950. The Castle Combe airfield opened in May 1941 on land of the Castle Combe estate, owned by the Gorst family, and operated as RAF Castle Combe for seven years before being decommissioned in 1948. During the war, the airfield was a training ground for pilots. From 1946 to 1948 the buildings served as
264-464: Is now Grade II listed. The village was owned by the Scrope family for over five centuries, until 1866 when it was sold to the Gorst family and Edward Chaddock Lowndes (who was previously also known as Gorst). The latter spent a great deal of money on improving the manor house and the estate. A National School was built in 1826, on a site between the upper and lower villages. The school was taken over by
297-458: The 2021 census , the parish had a population of 356. Castle Combe is within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is a popular tourist attraction. With its cluster of Cotswold stone cottages and lack of modern buildings – no new houses have been built in the historic centre of the village since about 1600 – the village has been described as a " chocolate box ",
330-513: The 17th century, John Aubrey stated that a market was held on the site of the old castle. At some time in the late 1700s, the level of the Bybrook River fell, so it could no longer be used to power mills. The cloth industry began leaving the area during that century; "industrial prosperity was over and the population decreased". Notable houses include the Dower House, from the late 17th century
363-437: The 1967 film musical Doctor Dolittle . Its frequently rainy summer climate frustrated production, as did attempted sabotage – including by British Army officer (and future explorer) Sir Ranulph Fiennes - because of residents' irritation at the producers' modifications of the area for shooting. Other productions include " The Murder of Roger Ackroyd ", an episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot , The Shell Seekers (1989) and
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#1733084684964396-595: The Allen family for some time, and they sold the Manor House to Mr and Mrs Oliver Clegg who (some time after 1976) sold it to the corporation which now owns the property. By the time it was listed as a Grade II property in 1960, it was already operating as a hotel. Castle Combe Circuit Castle Combe Circuit is a motor racing circuit in Wiltshire , England, approximately 20-mile (32 km) from Bristol . The circuit
429-476: The UK include the track in the events for their championships, including the 750 Motor Club and BRSCC . Once a year, motorcycle racing takes place over two days during the summer. The weekend includes a sidecar championship and an historic race, as well as the more modern supersport races. As well as holding trackdays for both cars and motorcycles, Castle Combe Circuit holds a large number of car shows. These shows follow
462-504: The club learn to drive from the age of 11. The club transform the track into driving circuits with roundabouts and motorway sections. The club also hold their annual Magic Day at Combe to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust. The circuit hosts a Greenpower event, one round in a series held at various racetrack-type venues. When not in use for racing, the circuit is the venue for a regular car boot sale that has become one of
495-552: The conversion to a hotel occurred shortly after the war. A quite glamorous clientele ensued. Certain of the London hotels would refer guests in search of authentic England to The Manor House. Bobbie Allen was a horsewoman, and the grounds of The Manor House were known for their suitability for riding. Mrs. Allen was from Lancashire and was known for her directness. She wrote a book about her experiences, From Claridge's to Castle Combe , self-published in 1968, which reflects her character and
528-651: The county council in 1909, and educated children of all ages until 1956 when older pupils were transferred to secondary schools in Chippenham. It closed in 1998 on the opening of a new primary school at Yatton Keynell . During the Second World War, the RAF Castle Combe airfield was built east of the village, with runways, hangars and a control tower. Between 1946 and 1948 the airfield buildings were used as temporary housing for former military from Poland. The property
561-613: The creation of the formal gardens, where a summerhouse incorporates fragments of medieval stone, and a 15th-century church bell-cote shelters a garden seat. The gardens to the east of the house were remodelled in Italian style by a later owner, E. C. Lowndes, who made further alterations to the house in the 1870s. During the Second World War , the New Zealand Forestry Officers used The Manor House as their headquarters, while
594-477: The films Stardust and The Wolfman . Throughout September 2010, the village was a filming location for Steven Spielberg 's production of War Horse . Raymond Austin set the action of his book Find me a Spy, Catch me a Traitor in the village and at the Manor. The house of Alice Cartalet in the manga and anime series Kiniro Mosaic was based on Fosse Farmhouse, a guesthouse near Castle Combe. The village
627-402: The house was used as a hospital. In 1947, the owner of the Castle Combe estate sold the houses and the estate and the Manor House became a country club. After 18 months, the club left the premises, and the house was shortly thereafter sold to Bobbie Allen, an amateur hotelier, and her husband. Mrs Allen wrote a book of her experiences, From Claridge's to Castle Combe . The property was owned by
660-607: The old earthworks and masonry, which are estimated to date from the 12th century. It is believed that the castle was constructed as the seat of the Barony of Combe under Reginald de Dunstanville either during the reign of Henry I or his son . Reginald was thought to support Empress Matilda during the Anarchy , and the castle was constructed during the wave of castle buildings of the Anarchy period. The 14th-century market cross , erected when
693-558: The post-War era of the community and the hotel.She includes many anecdotes about guests during that time including author Robin Maugham , equestrian show jumpers Pat Smythe , Harry Llewellyn , and American author and politician Clare Boothe Luce After many years, the Allens sold The Manor House to Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Clegg who, in 1988, sold it to the corporation which now owns the property. By
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#1733084684964726-408: The privilege to hold a weekly market in Castle Combe was granted, stands where the three principal streets of the lower village converge. The Market Cross, a scheduled monument , reflects "the significance of the cloth industry in this area". Next to the cross is one of Castle Combe's two village pumps . Small stone steps near the cross were for horse riders to mount and dismount, and close by are
759-420: The remains of the buttercross , built in the late 19th century from old masonry. This structure, also known as Weavers' Steps and 'the stone', is another scheduled monument. During the 14th century, the seat of the Barony was transferred to the Manor House within Castle Combe village and a deer park was created next to the castle. The market town prospered during the 15th century when it belonged to Millicent,
792-452: The time it was listed as a Grade II building in 1960, it was already operating as a hotel. Some sources state that Margaret Thatcher wrote at least some of her memoirs, The Downing Street Years , in the manor's Full Glass bar. Castle Combe Castle Combe is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire , England. The village is around 5 miles (8 km) north-west of Chippenham and 10 miles (16 km) north-east of Bath . At
825-539: The village, indicating Roman occupation of the area. The site has been excavated on at least three occasions, the first by Scrope in 1852 and the most recent in 2010. Some reports refer to the site as the North Wraxall or the Truckle Hill villa. Evidence of a bath house and corn drying ovens were found, the latter from the 4th century. The villa itself apparently contained 16 rooms, and there were additional buildings and
858-459: The wife of Sir Stephen Le Scrope and then of Sir John Fastolf (1380–1459), a Norfolk knight who was the effective lord of the manor for fifty years. By 1340, the village had a fulling mill, confirming the importance of wool by that time. Scrope promoted the woollen industry, supplying his own troops and others for Henry V's war in France. The parish was in the ancient hundred of Chippenham. By
891-415: The years. In 1997, Nigel Greensall established a lap record. His Tyrrell 022 lapped the circuit at 130.93 mph (210.71 km/h). However, this was the last year that the circuit would remain unaltered. An accident involving the death of a spectator forced the owners into installing two new chicanes in order to slow the cars down. The new layout was slightly longer at 1.850 mi (2.977 km), and
924-503: Was a filming location for the fantasy adventure movie Mariah Mundi and the Midas Box in 2012, and later for a series of Downton Abbey . Castle Combe has a car park at the top of the hill, and toilet facilities over the bridge at the bottom of the village. A small museum closed in 2012. The Manor House was built in the 17th century and rebuilt in the 19th. It has 48 rooms and 365 acres (148 ha) of gardens. During World War II,
957-516: Was completed over the winter of 1998–1999. Formula Three returned to Castle Combe in 2001. However, in 2005, the circuit was issued with a noise nuisance order. The British Formula Three Championship and the British GT Championship were both louder than permitted, and so were prevented from returning. Races include a home-circuit championship with classes for saloon cars, sports cars and GTs, and Formula Ford . Racing clubs from around
990-463: Was demolished in 1962. The last remaining stone tower of the castle stood for centuries, but it too was demolished, in 1950. Castle Combe parish has 107 listed buildings ; nearly all are in the Grade II category. The Church of England parish church of St Andrew is a Grade I listed building. Part of the chancel is 13th-century; in 1850–51 nearly all of the building, except the 15th-century tower,
1023-456: Was sold in 1948, and was later modified for motor racing; the tower is still used during races at Castle Combe Circuit . For decades the village had a number of gristmills and sawmills but all went out of business; Nettleton Mill closed before 1916 and Gatcombe Mill closed circa 1925; both are Grade II listed. The Long Dean Mill shut down in 1956; the Lower mill is now Grade II listed; Colham Mill
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1056-401: Was taken down and reconstructed to the same plan. The first chapel was built in 1757 and extended with a schoolroom in 1846. The current church, opened in 1914, is in the upper part of the village on what is now the B4039 road. The building is a former malt house and is attached to an 18th-century house which became the manse . The church continues in use. The village was a location for
1089-413: Was the home of English geologist and political economist George Poulett Scrope in the 19th century. He lived at The Manor House from the start in 1821 of his first marriage until the death of his wife Emma (the great-granddaughter of Sir Robert Long ) in 1866; his wife's family had owned the land since the 14th century. Scrope had the house heavily rebuilt between 1826 and 1830. He was also responsible for
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