Stoneywell

Stoneywell is a family home with a difference – it was created by Ernest Gimson as a summer house for his family, a rural escape within the forest. Nestling within the rocky outcrops of Charnwood Forest, Stoneywell is simply furnished with pieces made by Gimson and other makers in the Arts and Crafts movement and the house is a rare surviving example of a home completely created within the Arts and Crafts ethos. 

Stoneywell is set within gardens and woodland, bursting with colour and interest all year round. The gardens are semi-formal, combining remnants of the Charnwood heathland landscape alongside meadows of daffodils and bluebells in the spring. At the highest point of the garden sits a stone fort, built by Basil Gimson and giving spectacular views of Leicester and the surrounding countryside. Follow the winding paths around the cottage and look out for the 150 varieties of rhododendrons which are particularly stunning in spring and early summer. Then set out into the woodlands and listen to the abundant birdsong.  

If you are interested in the Arts and Crafts movement, a visit to Stoneywell is a must.  Younger visitors will love seeing the sort of toys and books which amused Basil Gimson’s own children, and the gardens provide ample opportunity for adventure and discovery.  

• Accessible toilet 
• Car park 
• Food and drink 
• Picnic areas 
• Shop 
• Toilets 

• Pre-booked visits only
• Admission charges apply