Abandoned mid-construction in the 1870s, this fascinating Grade I listed building is deemed a Gothic masterpiece. Its intricate stone carvings are amongst the finest in the world.
Situated in a secluded valley, it's not surprising that ghost stories and myths have grown like ivy around mysterious Woodchester Mansion's unfinished structure. Yet the very fact that it was never completed offers a unique insight into building techniques of the Victorian age.
Commissioned by a William Leigh, and designed by local architect Benjamin Bucknall, a series of family tragedies, financial restrictions and Leigh's own poor health meant that building work gradually ground to a halt in the 1870s. Leigh's descendants continued to take minimal care of the property; but its real protector was its remote location.
Nevertheless, when first the local council took it over in the 1980s, it was a decaying time-capsule. Ladders - many rungs missing - still leaned against walls; fireplaces hung suspended from floorless levels; other rooms were almost complete, right down to pelmets all carved from stone. Moreover, a colony of rare horseshoe bats - still in residence today - had taken over the attics.
It's now a fascinating visitor attraction, managed by Woodchester Mansion Trust, in a lovely location. Woodchester Park - the estate around it - is owned by the National Trust: within the valley is a chain of five lakes and an abundance of wildlife.