More of this legendary UK stately home has opened up to the public

Calling all history buffs! Shaw House, a Grade I-listed Elizabethan manor in Berkshire, has opened four new rooms to the public. 

Built in 1581, the grand Elizabethan digs were used as a stronghold for the Royalists during the English Civil War. Now, it’s a historical landmark visited by thousands every year, as well as a venue for weddings, conferences, events and performances. It’s considered one of the best preserved Elizabethan mansions in England. 

West Berkshire Council, which owns the house, has newly opened four abodes within the massive mansion: the public can now step inside the Tudor Oak Room, Queen Anne Drawing Room, Georgian Parlour and Edwardian Bedroom to see what life was really like at the manor in the olden days. 

Nigel Foot, the council's executive member for leisure, sport and countryside, called the house one of the borough’s ‘most treasured heritage sites’.

‘We're incredibly proud to showcase four centuries of stories, craftsmanship and character, and to enhance the gardens and facilities for everyone to enjoy,’ he said. ‘Whether you're a regular visitor or discovering Shaw House for the first time, there has never been a better time to explore this wonderful place.’

In 1945 Shaw House was sold to be used as a school. It was first listed in 1952, and a restoration in the early 2000s turned the building into a conference and events centre. Renovations on the house’s Tudor Garden were completed last year, while work to replicate a garden that was featured in Country Life magazine in 1910 will be complete soon and a new accessible playground is planned for the summer. 

Admission to Shaw House is free of charge. 

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