A peek at a Victorian family and their mansion through surviving letters.

As a Neo-Gothic mansion, Woodchester Mansion was an on-trend example of mid-19th-century architectural design that drew on the talents of Augustus Pugin, Charles Hansom and Benjamin Bucknall.

Join mansion archivist Liz Davenport who will be delving into and exploring the extended Leigh family, and the story of how Leigh’s estate became the property of his two granddaughters.

Many insights can be presented, as the Woodchester Mansion Trust was lucky enough to receive a box of Leigh family letters, lost in an attic for at least 50 years. These are combined by Liz with other archive material to give a unique picture of this prosperous family revealing a fascinating social history.

By opening up this treasure chest, Liz will be able to answer many unanswered questions surrounding this unique family and ambitious building project.

Liz Davenport has written a comprehensive guide to the history of the Mansion that tells how the wealthy Catholic convert William Leigh came to Woodchester Mansion and why his wonderful mansion was never finished.