Symondsbury Manor

Symondsbury Manor is a 17th century country house near Bridport, a mile from the coast of Dorset. It has 11 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms, and sleeps up to 22 guests. The house is the perfect place for a holiday with family or friends, or for special celebrations. 

Of the eleven bedrooms, one is on the ground-floor, off the kitchen, and is suitable for guests who would prefer not to use too many stairs. Two of the attic bedrooms are suitable for guests with a young family; the bedrooms are inter-connected and share a large bathroom.

The reception rooms are large and relaxed, and include a sixty-foot long open-plan living room.  There is also a huge country-style kitchen, and the sort of massive Aga that inspires immediate Mary Berry fantasies.

For any Strictly fantasists, there is a fabulous eighteenth century, panelled ballroom, which can be used for a number of things (not just the cha-cha-cha). It’s a great, flexible space, and has a table-tennis table, excellent for encouraging teenagers off sofas; and a piano, excellent for bringing out repressed aunts.    

The gardens at Symondsbury are mostly relaxed and informal, and there’s a charming fish pond in which to spot little fish. 

Edmund’s Choice of Extraordinary Feature

One of the very best things about this house is its atmosphere, generated by the hand-painted wall paper, eclectic furnishings and surprise quirks. There’s a life-sized unicorn, for example, by the drive, and a lot of the beds are four-posters – each different from the last. The owner is a respected artist; the walls of the house are filled with paintings and pictures collected from all over the world.

About The Location

Symondsbury is within a beautiful, golden village, which is itself a mile from the town of Bridport (famous for the Broadchurch series).  The nearest train station is about twelve miles away in Crewkerne, with trains from London. 

Things To Do

Symondsbury is a mile from West Bay and Dorset’s Jurassic coast, which now holds World Heritage status. 

The nearby market town of Bridport is famous for its very large Saturday street market of food, antiques and bric-a brac as well as independent shops.

In the local area, there are myriad golf courses to choose from, and all manner of water-sports and sea-fishing and diving. If you’d rather stay dry, there are art galleries and evenings of culture in Bridport.

Weddings

Symondsbury reserves a few dates a year for special, intimate weddings. Capacity as follows:

– 40 seated indoors (80 if buffet-style)
– 120 guests (maximum) if marquee is erected in the grounds