Highnam brings together architectural history, landscaped gardens and woodland walks. Highnam Court is a 17th-century country house with historically listed gardens; Holy Innocents adds a church with a distinctive fresco to the village’s history. Highnam Woods offers a different focus: ancient woodland, walks and the history of a conifer arboretum. These differences can help you decide whether to focus your trip on architecture and landscaped grounds, or on woodland.
Highnam Court and its gardens
Highnam Court is in Highnam, Gloucestershire, north of the A40. The country house is a Grade I listed building. It was built in 1658 for William Cooke, the son of Sir Robert Cooke, after the original house was damaged during the English Civil War. The construction of the house and the damage to the earlier house therefore belong to different periods in its history. The architectural style of Highnam Court is classified as Artisan Mannerism—a distinct stylistic reference alongside its date and documented history.
The gardens of Highnam Court are listed as a Grade II* park and garden for their special historic interest. They were first listed on 28 February 1986. This designation applies to the gardens, while the Grade I classification applies to the country house: these are two separate historic features, not a single designation for the whole site.
One distinctive feature of the gardens is the Pulhamite Winter Garden, laid out between 1849 and 1862. Its design includes grottoes, rock gardens and waterfalls; it was planted with evergreens and ferns. Together, these features give a clear impression of the designed landscape. The garden has a different focus from Highnam Woods, where ancient woodland and walks take centre stage.
Holy Innocents: church and fresco
Holy Innocents Church was built in 1849 for Thomas Gambier Parry, the owner of Highnam Court. It served as a memorial church and estate church. After the church was completed, Gambier Parry began painting a spiritual fresco titled “Doom” above the chancel arch. It depicts the judgement of the good and the wicked. The purpose of the building and the subject of the image offer two distinct ways into the church’s history: its connection with the estate and the religious theme of the fresco.
Woodland, walks and planting
Highnam Woods form part of an extensive area of ancient woodland running through the Severn Vale. Walks through bluebell woodland and woodland trails are among the area’s natural attractions. Another notable feature is the rare plant Tintern Spurge. To encourage its population, patches of ground are deliberately disturbed there—an indication that the woodland also involves specific conservation measures, in addition to offering walks.
Highnam Woods is also home to a conifer arboretum established by Thomas Gambier Parry in 1844. By 1863, it contained more than 300 species. Together with the older woodland and the targeted management of Tintern Spurge, this historic planting shows another side of the landscape: alongside woodland walks, there is also a history of cultivated tree collections. Thomas Gambier Parry features in several contexts in Highnam—as the owner of Highnam Court, the commissioner of the church and the founder of the arboretum.
Planning your visit
National Cycle Route 42 runs to the village of Highnam. Check route information before setting off. For walks, the “Walking Around Highnam” leaflet describes five routes around Highnam. Copies are available from Highnam Stores & Post Office; availability may change. The cycle route to the village and the five walking routes are different ways to find your way around. Which one suits your stay depends on whether you plan to reach Highnam by bike or explore the area on foot.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Boddington, Newent, Longhope, Bledington, Miserden, Coaley, Cheltenham, Fairford
For the broader travel guide: Gloucestershire.
