Woodchester, St Mary's Church 1900

Photo ref: 45593

More about this scene

Built in the Victorian Gothic style, Woodchester church was constructed in the early 1860s. By that time, building work on William Leigh's plan for a grand mansion at nearby Woodchester Park had been under way for six years. Unfortunately, Leigh suffered family tragedy when his two daughters died. His health failed, and in 1873 he died at the age of 70. Consequently his mansion was left unfinished. In 1989 the Woodchester Mansion Trust, a group of volunteers dedicated to the preservation of the building, assumed responsibility. Since then the house has been used as a training centre for stonemasons, and it is opened to the public on certain weekends during the summer months.