1641 Historic Farmhouse, Sleeps 16 · Bath/Bristol

A 1641 historic country house in Somerset, built by order of King Charles I and now open to guests for the very first time. Sleeps 16 across five bedrooms, on a 2.33-acre estate fifteen minutes from Bath and ten from Bristol. Four super-king bedrooms, a bunk room, three storeys of original beams and parquet floors, two living rooms, a chef's kitchen, three dining areas and a bar. Dogs welcome throughout, with a fenced garden and local dog walkers on call. The whole estate sleeps 24. A 1641 country house in Somerset, built by order of King Charles I and now open to guests for the first time. Sleeps 16 across five bedrooms, on a 2.33-acre estate fifteen minutes from Bath and ten from Bristol. Dogs welcome throughout.

Four centuries of evenings have been held in these rooms. The house was built in 1641, on the King's orders, to protect the Royal forest of Kingswood — a hunting estate that once stretched from Gloucester to Keynsham. A gatekeeper was appointed by the King to watch over the land. The forest is long gone, but the house has stayed, with its symmetry, its period features, and the kind of stillness that only old stone holds.

For most of its recent life it has been a family home, lived in rather than let. It opens to guests now for the very first time.

The house sleeps sixteen across five bedrooms: four with super-king beds and a sixth room with two triple bunk beds plus two additional singles elsewhere. It works as easily for two families travelling together as it does for a gathering of old friends — and with the four cottages alongside on the same estate, the whole of Parkhouse Farm can host up to 24 guests in total.

Three storeys of original beams, parquet floors, a 1641 fireplace, two living rooms, a fully equipped chef's kitchen, a service kitchen, three dining areas, a bar room, two further sitting rooms, and grounds with a fountain, a pond, fields you can walk straight into, and a large trampoline.

Bath is fifteen minutes one way, Bristol ten the other, and the Cotswolds are on the doorstep. Dogs are welcome throughout, with a fenced rear garden, dog cleaning area, water bowls, and Wander & Wild — our trusted local dog walkers and sitters — available for the days you want to head into Bath or Bristol without them.

We have not tried to turn it into something it isn't. It remains a place for people who would rather walk and cook and sit by a fire than chase glamour. We have simply opened the biggest, oldest, warmest room in the house and set a table in it.

GROUND FLOOR
The heart of the house. A fully equipped chef's kitchen with built-in induction hob, oven, twin-compartment air fryer, American-style fridge-freezer, espresso coffee machine, dishwasher, and the kind of complete utensil and cookware drawer that means a family of sixteen can sit down to Christmas lunch without anyone having to improvise. Glassware for every purpose, fifteen chopping boards, chef's knives, salad bowls, baking trays, stewing pots — everything is here. A separate service kitchen takes the prep work and the mess away from the gathering. Alongside the kitchens sit three distinct dining areas — formal, informal, and a third for casual breakfasts — plus a bar room with the original character of the house intact, a downstairs WC, and a generous living room with a 1641 fireplace that has thrown heat into the same room for almost four hundred years.

FIRST FLOOR
The master bedroom occupies its own wing — a super-king bed with an additional single, a large walk-in wardrobe, and an en-suite shower room. A further super-king bedroom shares the floor, with a large family bathroom alongside (separate freestanding bath and a walk-in shower). A washing machine sits on this floor for the practicalities of a longer stay.

SECOND FLOOR
Two further super-king bedrooms, one with an en-suite (bath with shower over) and a baby cot in addition to the long-size super-king bed for those travelling with young children. The bunk room on this floor holds two triple bunk beds, sleeping six, with two additional singles bringing the house up to its full sleeps-16 capacity. A second living room sits on this floor — a quieter, more private space for reading, films, or escaping the main gathering.

THE GROUNDS
Around the house lie 2.33 acres of grounds: front and back gardens with a fountain, a pond with newts and dragonflies, a paddock, mature trees, and fields you can walk into directly. Outdoor seating for 26 across the terraces and lawn. A large trampoline for children. The rear garden is fully fenced for dogs, with a dedicated dog cleaning area next to the cottages, and water and feeding bowls available throughout the property. Several parking spaces are dotted around the grounds. CHECK-IN: from 4pm
CHECK-OUT: by 10am

ADDITIONAL RULES:

— The Primary Guest is responsible for ensuring the accommodation is left in the condition it was in upon check-in. The Primary Guest shall be liable for any damages caused by their own acts and omissions (including, without limitation, failure to timely vacate the accommodation) and also for the acts and omissions of any individuals that the Primary Guest invites or otherwise allows into the accommodation.
— Guests are required to show photo identification on arrival and to pre-authorise a deposit of £500 prior to check-in. The deposit is released in full at the end of the stay assuming the property is left in good order.
— Guests are asked to let the property know in advance of arrival what time they expect to arrive, so we can ensure a smooth check-in.
— Dogs are welcome free of charge but must be mentioned at the time of booking. A maximum of four dogs per booking, and dogs are not to be left unattended in the property.
— Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the house. Smoking is permitted in designated areas of the garden.
— No parties or events without prior written agreement with the host.
— Quiet hours: 10pm to 8am, in respect of the cottages alongside and the surrounding countryside.
Pets - allowed

Parkhouse Farm sits in a quiet lane just outside Keynsham, with Bath fifteen minutes one way and Bristol ten the other. The easiest way to reach the property, and to explore the area properly, is by car — there is generous parking for several vehicles around the grounds.

For guests arriving by train, the nearest mainline station is Keynsham (about 5 minutes by taxi), with direct services to Bath Spa, Bristol Temple Meads, London Paddington and Cardiff Central. Bristol Airport is approximately thirty minutes by car.

Once you're here, the surrounding countryside is best explored on foot or by bicycle — fields, footpaths and country lanes lead straight out from the property. For Bath and Bristol, both are an easy drive; Bath Park & Ride is the simplest way to enter the city without parking pressure. Local taxis are available, and we can recommend trusted drivers for guests who prefer not to drive after a long lunch or an evening out.