Wightwick Manor was designed in an ‘Old English’ style by Midlands architect Edward Ould between 1887–1893. The interior styling was based on Oscar Wilde’s lecture about 'The House Beautiful'. The result being a busy, lived-in, and well-loved home with an eclectic mix of furniture and art.
Geoffrey Mander, a local paint manufacturer and Liberal MP, inherited Wightwick Manor in 1900. Having gifted the house to the National Trust, he became a live-in curator with his wife Rosalie. Together they brought a collection of art, which now forms one of the largest public collections of work by female artists in Britain.
Having been kept just as it was when the Mander family lived in it, Wightwick Manor is a magnificent home. The rooms are impressive with well-decorated interiors featuring busy patterns and quirky furnishings. The volunteers are friendly and have wealth of information about the Manor. Don't forget to ask them about the secret...!
Next to the house is a small art gallery and secondhand bookshop as well as a gift shop.
Set in 17 acres, Wightwick features Victorian and Edwardian gardens. Close to the house are formal gardens with clipped hedges, structured beds, herbaceous borders, and terraces. The gardens become increasingly more natural following the path leading from the house, through the gardens, into the small woodlands, and down to the pond.
It's a short walk with not much to see in winter. It's certainly a National Trust location worth visiting in spring or summer when there are leaves on the trees and the flowers are in full bloom. However, the manor itself is deserving enough for a visit.
Dogs are welcome to explore the Wightwick Gardens on a short lead, with the exception of the kitchen garden and the manor itself. Dogs are also welcome in The Stables cafe, which is rare for a National Trust property!
From the car park, the walk up to Wightwick Manor is via a sweeping uphill path. It leads you alongside the formal gardens and up to the front door. So be prepared for a short yet somewhat steep walk.
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