'A splendid example of the English manor house at its most evocative' Country Life
'The gatehouse is an Elizabethan gem' Simon Jenkins, England's Thousand Best Houses
‘A remarkable Tudor house of brick’ Nikolaus Pevsner, The Buildings of England'
'One of the finest Tudor houses in Britain' Shropshire Magazine
Upton Cressett Hall is a moated Elizabethan brick manor with historic gatehouse and Norman church set in an unspoilt and romantic landscape near the Shropshire market town of Bridgnorth in the heart of PG Wodehouse's Blandings country. The house has long been admired by architectural critics ranging from Nikolaus Pevsner to Simon Jenkins, who included Upton Cressett in his acclaimed 'The Thousand Best Houses of Britain', describing it as an ‘Elizabethan gem’.
The manor was the historic home of the Cressett family for centuries, before the Cash family began living there in 1971. Following restoration work, Upton Cressett is now open to the public and for group visits. The property is also available for events, concerts and filming. A special production of Much Ado About Nothing was performed to mark the re-opening of the Hall. In June 2012, the Hall and grounds will be hosting two special Open Days for the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations on Monday, 4th June - with a talk by William Cash on 'Bridgnorth's Royal History' - and also on Sunday, June 10th, with a talk on 'Shropshire's :iterary Landscape'. See News.
Upton Cressett Hall was named the winner of 'Hidden Gem' at the 2011 Hudson's Heritage Awards, the Oscars of the heritage world (see Press and blog) recognising 'The Nation's Finest Heritage'. The awards were announced on 1st December at the Grosvenor Square Hotel and presented by Norman Hudson OBE, chairman of the judges. The other judges were Lady Lucinda Lambton and Jeremy Musson, former architectural editor of Country Life. Upton Cressett was also short-listed for Best Restoration and Best Accommodation. The only other historic house to receive three nominations is the Elizabethan stately home of Burghley.
The two year restoration of Upton Cressett was the cover story of the October 2011 issue of Shropshire Magazine. In the article, editor Neil Thomas, describes Upton Cressett as 'one of the finest Tudor houses in the Britain and a true Shropshire gem'. William Cash will be writing a new column for Shropshire Magazine from the summer.
The Gatehouse is available for luxury mini-breaks and private let. Featuring two octagonal turrets, thick Tudor brick walls, an oak carved spiral staircase, and rare sixteenth century ornamental plasterwork, as well as all modern comforts, the Gatehouse is one of England's most secluded and luxuriously appointed romantic hideaways.
Prince Rupert of the Rhine took refuge in the Gatehouse whilst escaping the Parliamentary army; others who have stayed at Upton Cressett throughout its remarkable history include the young King Edward V, one of the Princes in the Tower, on the way from Ludlow to the Tower of London in 1483, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, novelist Sebastian Faulks and Elizabeth Hurley.
The Gatehouse is also used by the Upton Cressett Foundation, a writers' retreat for novelists, academics, playwrights, biographers and historians to shut themselves away for up to six weeks - by invitation - to make creative progress with a project in a quiet and uniquely remote historic setting. Often compared to the Tower at Sissinghurst, where Vita Sackville-West built her library and wrote her many books, the Gatehouse has an inspirational environment.