RODMARTON MANOR, near Cirencester in Gloucestershire, is one of the largest Arts and Crafts County Houses and was one of the last to be built. It was designed by Ernest Barnsley and built in the traditional style in which everything was done by hand with local stone, local timber and local craftsmen. Machine production, including the use of the circular saw was not allowed, all timber being sawn in a sawpit. Adrian Tinniswood has asked whether or not the two men who slaved in the sawpit with a two handed saw, to cut the timber really appreciated the stance against the Machine Age adopted by Barnsley in his approach to constructing the house. See Reading.
Over the 20 years that it took to build the house many people were involved in building, woodwork, metalwork, needlework, painting, gardening, all done to a very high standard. Most of the furniture was made specially for the house, either in the Rodmarton workshops, or made by Sidney Barnsley, Edward Barnsley or Peter Waals. Some furniture was bought after the house was built but all pieces are directly or indirectly attributable to the original craftsmen or people who had connections with them such as Harry Davoll, Owen Scrubey, Oliver Morel.
The building was commended by C.R. Ashbee in 1914 as showing the English Arts and Crafts Movement at its best. For further information and visiting times please check the website below.