Cirencester Park

The Mansion, as it is locally known today, was built by the 1st Earl on the foundations of the original Tudor-Jacobean house – it is also believed to be built on the same site as the original Cirencester castle, built c.1107.

Cirencester Park sits within the town of Cirencester and is screened from the town by the tallest yew hedge in the world. When Sir Benjamin purchased the house in 1695, his son began the initial building of the present house. The wings of the Jacobean house were demolished and Lord Bathurst added new facades to the main fronts, leaving a classical style house.

It wasn’t until 1810-11 that any major changes were made, when the 3rd Earl Bathurst engaged Robert Smirke to demolish the West Porch and to add the North Wing. In 1830 Smirke was back at Cirencester, where he rebuilt the East Front.

The 3,000-acre woodland and pasture park is open all year, with a perimeter hedge (claimed to be the largest in the world) planted in the 1720s. Stephen Switzer may have advised on the original plan, and Alexander Pope invested money in the planting, but Lord Bathurst was the park’s inspiration. The forest is transected by a goose-foot of avenues inspired by baroque geometry.

Visits are to the park only.