Wisson Hill Tudor House Open Day

Built in 1530 as a quality farmhouse to attract the best tenant farmer. The local Payton family ran the farm in Barton so successfully that they were able to buy the property from the owners in 1589, modernising a few decades later, including swapping the smoke bay for brick fireplaces, before building a new stone manor house next door in 1663: a Warwickshire story of climbing the ladder. The Bushell family, who had the house built, were local gentry with close connections to William Shakespeare and three of the Gunpowder Plotters.

After centuries of neglect, the house has been restored, uncovering the original structure, still with smoke-blackening and original paint in many places. The many carpenters marks give a direct link to the craftsmen who worked on the house and the burn and witch marks give an insight into the superstitions of the people who lived in the house. The building also has the remains and scars of centuries of everyday rural life.

Until recently a private home, Wisson Hill is now available for holiday lets and is opening to the public for the first time. Understand the challenges of life reliant on a open fire and how an unusual early modern building was designed and modified to suit the needs and aspirations of a Warwickshire farming family. Wills and inventories detail the people and objects of the time, with a display of finds from the restoration and graffiti left by a farmer later declared a lunatic. More information at https://www.wissonhill.com.

Timings

Saturday 12 September:

Tour: 1400-1500

Sunday 13 September:

Tour: 1400-1500

Thursday 17 September:

Tour: 1830-1930

Location & directions

Wisson Hill, 16 Welford Road, Barton, Alcester, Warwickshire, B50 4NP

Directions:

Please park in the gravel yard of the house or at the front, in possible.

Contact on day:

Amanda Billingsley

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking preferred

Booking conditions:

People are able to book on the day but can also book beforehand if they want to guarantee a space, as places are limited.

Booking contact name:

Amanda Billingsley

Booking website:

https://wissonhill.com/wisson-hill-joins-heritage-open-days-2026/

Booking opens:

01 Jun 2026 12:00 AM

Booking closes:

17 Sep 2026 12:00 AM

Accessibility details

Wisson Hill is a 500-year old house and presents significant challenges to those with physical disabilities, including a raised threshold, narrow stairs, small steps, and uneven floors.

Additional information

Max number of people:

10

Estimated duration:

1 hour(s)

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