Farleigh House, Historic home of ‘Bath Rugby'
WOOLF Interior Design & Interior Architecture had the pleasure to have been taken on a tour of the main house and grounds of Farleigh House which is now the home of Bath Rugby. We were really struck with the level of pride and attention to a really intrinsic level of detail that has been put into converting this beautiful Grade II listed building in the Somerset countryside, into the home and training ground for the talented world class Bath Rugby athletes and their Club. Explore WOOLF Historic Projects
At every level possible the highest quality local trades have been employed to refurbish the house and gardens in keeping with the tradition of house with this stature. A tradition of employing local trades was chosen wherever possible in this refurbishment. For example, the block of stone used for the central hall fireplace would originally have come from a local Somerset stone yard and crafted onsite by a Bath stonemason. WOOLF Interior Design & Interior Architecture have been engaged on a number of interior design projects where we have made judgements on how best to marry the function of a building, whilst recognising its historical design and history, in considering how a building can be adjusted for contemporary living.
The house and grounds of the Farleigh Estate have a lengthy history and have been reincarnated a number of times since their origins in 1800. The Estate has served its previous owners as a private family Manor House, a Prep-School for children with additional learning needs and the Headquarters for the London-based Company Inspecs Group Plc. It is clear each consecutive owner of this splendid Estate has, in their own way, devoted resource, time and local talent to enhance and retain its original historic splendour through skilled interior design and architecture, whilst also addressing their individual and unique needs. Explore WOOLF historic projects.
Today the property is a hive of activity with talented rugby players training in the grounds and relaxing in the stunning interior of their Farleigh House Headquarters. Such a perfect juxtaposition of historic detailing and contemporary comfort and interior design, which forms a backdrop to the intriguing world of modern sports technology. One cannot image such a marriage of pedigrees, but it is both successful and undoubtedly inspiring for all who live and work there.
Architect Simon Pugh-Jones of ASH Studios designed and oversaw the transformation of the Estate from office use to the Elite Sports Training Headquarters it is today. Simon explained that “re-imagining historic sites is sometimes a challenge of fitting ‘new’ to ‘old’ whilst respecting the heritage without compromising the proposed use. But Farleigh House was originally conceived as a place of excellence, the antithesis of the industrial revolution that funded it, so Bath Rugby, a Club of rich heritage and a culture of excellence, was the perfect fit at Farleigh House. We were not only able to preserve this beautiful place, but to truly enhance it.”
The redevelopment project included the creation of an artificial training pitch, catering facilities, changing rooms, a medical center, a bespoke hi-tech gymnasium and a variety of administrative accommodation for staff and players.
The History of the Manor House and Estate
The Houlton family had owned the Farleigh Estate for ninety years when Col. John Houlton inherited the properties in 1806 and began to build the new house, as we know it today, prior to this it is thought that the house may have been developed from the site of an earlier medieval property. Explore WOOLF Historic Projects
In the medieval period, the Estate continued to be part of the holdings of the great magnates, most notably de Montfort, who sold it to the Bishop of Lincoln and his brother Bartholomew Lord Burghersh in 1337. In 1369, Farleigh and Wellow, along with other estates, were bought by Thomas Hungerford of Heytesbury, and Farleigh became the principal seat in Somerset of the Hungerfords until 1686. The house was largely built with stone taken from the ruins of the medieval Farleigh Castle.
A Trowbridge clothier, Joseph Houlton, bought the Farleigh Hungerford estate in 1702, and his son, Joseph Houlton the Younger, lived at Church Farm on the estate. He completely rebuilt and turned an old gabled house into Farleigh House which became his modest gentleman's residence, complete with a 120-acre (49 ha) deer park.
In 1806, Colonel John Houlton inherited the estate. He enlarged and altered the house and interiors in the fashionable Gothic Revival style, spending £40,000 - several millions of pounds in today's values — on extensions to the main house, a chapel, hot houses, conservatories, stables and six lodges. Most of the present house dates from that period. One of the lodges was called the Castle Lodge and is now known as the Bath Lodge Hotel. The Houlton family remained at Farleigh Hungerford until the end of the 19th Century, when Sir Edward Houlton died with no male heir.
Farleigh House was then bought by Lord Donington at auction on 7th July 1891. The Estate was almost immediately put back on the market and subsequently sold in 1906 to Lieutenant - Colonel Wilfred Dallas Cairns, 4th Earl Cairns. In 1947 the House was sold again, this time to the Hon. Healey Hutchinson, who occupied it as a family home throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
In 1970, the main house and a number of cottages were sold to a Mr John F. R. Gillam, the Headmaster and owner of Ravenscroft School, which had previously been based in nearby Beckington Castle. In about 1980, John Gillam also bought much of the remainder of the Farleigh Hungerford estate. Then in July 1996, Ravenscroft School was closed and the property was leased to the new Farleigh College and used by them until 2001, as a school educating children with autism spectrum disorders and dyslexia.
The Gillam family continued to own the house until 2002, when it was sold to the optical company Inspecs Group Plc to serve as the firm's headquarters. The London-based company, owned by Robin Totterman and Chris Smith, purchased the house and grounds and reinstated the old name of 'Farleigh House'. They spent eight years and significant amounts of money bringing the house back to its former glory including work to the interior design of the period property. A complete refurbishment was carried out during this time, including the replacement of most of the flat lead roof. A medieval fortified tower to the west of Farleigh House, known as 'Drakes' and now called the Tower House or Castle Court, was saved from ruin through an extensive restoration project. Estate Manager David Reed (the brother of the late actor Oliver Reed) also carried out significant ground works to reinstate the traditional formal gardens.
Explore WOOLF historic projects
In April 2010 it was announced that Bruce Craig, a local businessman, had bought a 99-year lease on Farleigh House to use it as Bath Rugby Club's new administrative headquarters and elite training ground. Since his acquisition of the Club this great Gothic Revival architectural site in Somerset has become the beautiful home for Bath’s most prestigious club. Work was once again carried out to sensitively restore and enhance the interior design of the property, creating space that is worthy and suitable for the home of Bath Rugby and all that that entails.
Once again Farleigh House and Estate has been beautifully adjusted to suit the requirements and needs of its latest occupiers.
