Historic Places

Tintinhull Court

Part of Tintinhull Court originated as a medieval parsonage for the Church of St Margaret, under the control of Montacute Priory from 1102. After the dissolution of the monasteries, the evolving property reverted to the Crown (to Henry VIII). The monarch subsequently leased it to Sir William Petre. In 1546 it was leased to the Napper family and purchased by Nicholas Napper in 1560. The Court was significantly improved in 1529, 1678, 1777 and 1927 and is designated a Grade I listed building. The Nappers retained ownership of the house and estate for almost 250 years. They built the nearby Dower House, around 1685, for the recently widowed Honour Napper. Both The Court and The Dower House are now privately owned. Their other significant building, Tintinhull House, is now in the hands of the National Trust.

Tintinhull House and Garden

The original farmhouse, which forms the basis of the current Tintinhull House, was built in 1630. It was reshaped and enlarged around 1722 when the west façade was added. The house was the property of the Napper family, who also owned Tintinhull Court, and was passed down within the family until they sold it sometime after 1814. The Nappers let it to the Pitt family until the death of John Napper in 1791. It then passed through several hands until 1835, when it was bought by Jeremiah Penny. In 1898 the then owner, Arthur Cobbett, added a single-storey extension to the east front before selling it to his tenant, the botanist Dr. S.J.M. Price.The formal gardens were developed in the early 20th century to a scheme in part attributed to Harold Peto. In 1933 the property was bought by Capt. F.E. Reiss and his wife Phyllis, who expanded the gardens. In 1954 Phyllis Reiss gave the house and garden to the National Trust.

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St Margaret’s Church

The original church, dating from the 12th century, was replaced by the present building, which was associated with Montacute Priory, as part of its foundation estate granted by William, Count of Mortain. It remained linked to the Priory until the dissolution of the monasteries in the 1530s.
The original building was remodelled with the addition of a chancel arch in the 14th century, with the perpendicular windows of the nave being added in the 15th century. The interior includes a 15th century octagonal font and an altar table and octagonal panelled timber pulpit from the 17th century.
The church has a four-stage tower with the top stage, parapet and the north-east stair turret having been added to the original 13th century work during 1516 and 1517. The earlier three-stage tower is in the Early English Period and supported by angle buttresses. The tower has five bells.