Woodchester Mansion, West Midlands England

Entirely gothic revival, over the top, impressive, neo-gothic features throughout, however Woodchester is different and unique because it was never finished, never lived in, never someone’s home, only someone’s dream, an unrealized vision that is frozen in time.

Building work started at Woodchester in 1857 when Gothic revival in Britain was the height of fashion.  By the mid-1860’s all work had stopped, the house was left as though still waiting for the workmen to return and finish the job.  Its skeleton left exposed so what we can see here that is never visible in a stately home is the skeleton of the building. How it was built, is on show alongside the elaborate works that have been completed.

William Leigh purchased Woodchester in 1845 in 1857 work commenced to build the house, mainly of local limestone.  The building has a high level of craftsmanship; the main ground floor rooms all have vaulted stone ceilings. Leigh’s ambitions seem to have been greater than his finances and work slowed.  After his death his son also looked at the cost of completing the house and found that the income that would need to generated to complete the house and sustain it was greater than the income of the estate.  So the mansion remained in limbo, and continues to be half a house, an unfinished masterpiece.