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Garsington Manor

Garsington Manor is a Tudor building, best known historically for its ownership by Lady Ottoline Morrell. Ottoline and her husband Philip Morrell bought the house in 1914 and restored the run down property, also creating a series of Italian style gardens which survive today. Through World War One and in the 1920s many of Britain's leading artistic and intellectual figures came here. During the war the Morrells offered sanctuary to conscientious objectors such as Clive Bell, and other members of the Bloomsbury Group. They worked on the property's farm as a way of escaping prosecution. The Morrell's many other visitors included D.H. Lawrence, Seigfried Sassoon, Aldous Huxley, T.S. Eliot, and Bertrand Russell, who became Ottoline's lover.

Garsington Manor is now owned by Leonard and Rosalind Ingrams, and has hosted the Garsington Opera every summer since 1989. In 2008 the opera season will run from the 4th of June to 6th of July, with performances starting in the early evening. There is a long interval when visitors can picnic in the grounds or eat in the restaurant. Go to the Garsington Opera web site for details of performances. Booking for the general public opens on April the 21st.

Directions: Garsington Manor is near Oxford. From the M40 take junction 7 onto the A329. At Stadhampton turn right onto the B480. The second turning on the right will be sign posted to Garsington.

Access: there is a lift to the opera auditorium, and space for one wheelchair user and helper at the front of the auditorium.

Contact:

phone: 01865 361636

web site: http://www.garsingtonopera.org/page.asp?p=75