About Us
Steeped in history, beauty and intrigue, Stonehouse Court is a magnificent manor house hotel in the heart of the Cotswolds. Sitting proudly upon six acres of private land overlooking the Stroud Valley and canal, our hotel is recognised as one of the finest wedding and events venues in the region, excelling at contemporary dining and providing a hotel service like no other. Boasting 36 luxuriously comfortable bedrooms, grandiose gardens and function rooms full of historical features, Stonehouse Court provides the perfect location for overnight stays, fantastic food and events to remember.
Local business woman Sarah Brewster purchased the Grade II listed Manor House in 2004. The historic manor house, classified by English Heritage as one of the most important historic buildings in the country dates back to the Domesday book and follows a fascinated history through the ages. On becoming a hotel in 1984, the Manor remain largely untouched for 20 years, when Sarah and a team of dedicated staff set about transforming the Manor to its former splendour.
Working tirelessly over the last 18 years, Sarah has focused on combining a contemporary classic design; capturing the beauty of the surrounding landscape and nature, whilst paying homage to the industrial heritage of the Stroud Water Canal and the Lutyens architecture of 1901.
Through a team of loyal and passionate people dedicated to providing service excellence, superb food and seamless events, the hotel has gone from strength to strength and continues to evolve; most recently focusing on sustainability and reducing its impact on the environment through its Green Tourism Silver Award, gaining planning permission for 14 new Eco bedrooms, Spa and restaurant as well as winning a £45k Scale Up for Growth grant to enhance the product offering and create new jobs within the local community.
A Brief History
1601
Dating back to 1601, Stonehouse Court Hotel was originally a Manor House that controlled the surrounding estates during the feudal system of the time, as seen in the Domesday Book. Of all the occupants bestowed upon the manor house, the residency of the Earls of Arundel is undoubtedly the most interesting in the history of the house.
1559
In 1559, the Arundels sold their manor to William Stanford and William Fowler. William Fowler succeeded to the rights and tenements of our Manor in 1568, and it was William Fowler’s son, Steven, who rebuilt our house in 1601 (a notable event, and one which has formed the inspiration for our newly branded Bar & Grill, 1601).
1907
By 1907, the manor was passed down a female line of the Fowlers by various family marriages until it was sold to a local businessman, Mister Winterbotham. He and his wife, Caroline, had occupied our house for only a year when disaster struck.
In the early hours of the morning of 30th May 1908, a fire gutted the house, leaving only the exterior and main interior walls intact - and has since been responsible for the ghost of Stonehouse Court.
1984
The Winterbothams immediately set about rebuilding. Carol Winterbotham continued to occupy the house until her death in 1975 at the age of 100. The house then went to business use and became a hotel in 1984. There have been very few changes to the house after it was rebuilt, allowing for the inclusion of some of the original Tudor panelling which survived the fire of 1908.
