Pictures of Westonbirt

About Westonbirt

The magnificent Italian Renaissance style mansion that was home to the Holford family for several hundred years is now a school for girls but is fortunately open to the public a couple of times a year. This beautiful building occupies part of the grounds which form the famous Westonbirt Arboretum, that was begun in 1829 by Robert Holford, squire of Westonbirt. Four generations of this exceedingly wealthy family had been leading judges in London. Robert Holford's enduring passion was Trees. He employed W.S.Gilpin, the fashionable landscape architect of the day and together they set about tranforming the grounds of the great house and set the scene for the magnificent Arboretum that we see today.

Westonbirt is stunningly beautiful at all seasons, the cherry glade is wonderful in spring, so too, are the rhododendrons and azaleas. Autumn brings a magnificent array of colours that range from glorious gold to vivid chesnut and brilliant reds.

The great estate of Westonbirt Arboretum is owned by the Forestry Commission. It is open to the public and visitors have complete freedom to wander anywhere in the woods.