Asthall Manor, Country house in Asthall, Great Britain

The house dates from the reign of James I and rises two floors above attics, built from the warm Cotswold limestone that defines the entire front. Mullioned windows divide the walls, while the roof carries heavy stone slates that darken in the rain.

Sir William Jones commissioned the current building in 1620 on the site of a medieval structure that stood here before. Ownership then passed through several noble families including the Peacocks and the Batemans until the Mitfords arrived.

The Mitford family occupied the house from 1919 to 1926, and their daughter Nancy used its rooms and setting as the model for Alconleigh in her novels. Visitors can walk through the gardens and interiors that shaped the daily routines of this literary household.

The estate opens its grounds occasionally for temporary exhibitions, especially sculpture shows, which usually take place in spring or summer. Visitors should check in advance when events are scheduled, as access remains limited to these occasions.

In 1899 the property installed an electric system powered by a water turbine in the nearby River Windrush, bringing light to the rooms. This early use of hydroelectric power for a private home was uncommon in rural areas at the time.