Holiday rental
This is a dog-friendly self-catering holiday house for fans of historic England, offering authentic 16th century features and history, alongside wi-fi and big, comfortable beds. Cool stone walls are comfortable in the summer and a wood-burning stove is cosy in the winter. Stress-free transport is also offered to guests who prefer not to drive.
Wisson Hill is available for holiday rental for the first time, in 2026. This sixteenth century farmhouse has been lovingly refurbished over the last 20 years, whilst a family home. Inspired by the Landmark Trust, guests are now invited to share the many historic features and mysteries that have been uncovered in a house dating from the Tudor period.
This is a historic holiday home with a difference. The Tudor structure and its changes across the centuries have not been plastered over, so visitors can see how the house was built in 1530 and the evidence of later alterations. The house is furnished with a blend of antiques, close matches to contemporary furnishings, and original artwork, to give a warm and personal feel.
Fans of the Tudor period can see the original timber frame house built in 1530, as well as the results of a second Tudor phase of building, probably in the 1590s.
Period features include timber frame, flagstones, three large fireplaces, including an inglenook with wood-burning stove, original decorative features and paint, superstitious markings, wattle and daub panels, leaded windows and carpenters marks.
The history of the house and its owners, with connections with William Shakespeare and the Gunpowder Plotters and the house’s restoration story show that this is a very unusual and quirky historic place to stay on holiday.
Big windows let in sunlight, and large radiators and a wood burning stove keep the house bright and cosy, despite its age. From the spacious kitchen dining room, opening onto a sunny courtyard, to the grandeur of the timbered gable bedroom, Wisson Hill is an ideal holiday base for history lovers and fans of the Tudor period.
Wisson Hill is easy to reach, in the heart of England, served by the motorway network and about 45 minutes from Birmingham airport. However you arrive, the last part of the journey will be over the medieval bridge at Bidford-on-Avon, crossing the meadows into the rural hamlet of Barton.
There is plenty of off-road parking, walks from the door and a pub in the village. On the edge of the Heart of England Forest and with paths in either direction along the Avon, the walking in the immediate area makes this a heavenly holiday base for dog-owners (and dogs).
Situated half way between Stratford-upon-Avon and The Cotswolds, rolling countryside, forests, picturesque villages, and historic attractions are all very close. For those who are prepared to drive a little further, there are dozens of National Trust properties, Warwick and Kenilworth castles and even a day trip to Wales, or Worcester, Oxford or London by train.
Dog-friendly historic house
Dogs are welcome to stay here – please just let us know how many dogs you would like to bring when you book. We are happy that you stick to your dogs’ routines while staying at Wisson Hill, so there are no specific rules – please just make sure they don’t leave any permanent reminder of their visit or disturb our neighbours.
As mentioned by the dog-owner in our first review, riverside and other country walks are very close, and the gravel yard is fine for evening pees.
Dog sitting can be arranged on request, so you don’t have to juggle hot cars on local day trips – just let us know if a bit of support might help you and your dog have a more relaxed holiday, ranging from:
- Just listening out for your dog and sending you a quick message that all is peaceful
- Letting your dog out for a wee in the enclosed yard at agreed times
- Your dog joining the owner in her adjacent home or enclosed garden for a chilled day
- Your dog being taken on a country walk, if you are happy with that
Our family of four stayed at Wisson Hill. It was a wonderful experience in every way. The Elizabethan era house has been lovingly restored and it feels even more authentic than the Shakespeare birth house you will almost certainly visit in nearby Stratford upon Avon. Amanda, the host, provides kayaks to put in to the Avon within walking distance, and trail bikes. Short drives in every direction bring yet another Cotswolds village to explore. The kitchen is well equipped, the rooms are very comfortable, the house is spacious and well furnished, and best of all the bookshelves are stacked with fiction and non fiction related to the village, its surroundings, the English civil war, Shakespeare and his life and times. In short, this house is highly recommended!
A haven of peace and tranquility. Everything you need for a relaxing stay sleeping under a canopy of 500 year oak beams. The house is beautifully restored respectfully with a passionate and knowledgable host. Location wise it's well located for Stratford upon Avon, the Cotswolds with truly beautiful walks along the Riven Avon a few steps across the road, a real hidden gem. Thank you Amanda for a wonderful stay.
An authentic 16th century house with 21st century comfort
The three bedrooms all have comfortable new oak beds and mattresses, with quality bedding. The shower has a good pressure and the slipper bath is a luxurious delight. The fully-equipped and spacious kitchen is great for lazy breakfasts or home-cooked supper, but there are many places to eat and drink within walking distance or a short drive.
Solar panels, an air source heat pump, batteries and a 100% renewable electricity supply are complemented by a local supply of dried wood to burn, making this old house as eco-friendly as possible.
Facilities
Beneath historic timber-framed ceilings and surrounded by features which date back to Tudor times, this historic holiday house offers comfort, modern facilities and a unique room devoted to a private collection of books, a display of archaeological finds and traditional games. Room by room:
- One large bedroom with King size bed and ensuite toilet and basin
- One bedroom with King size bed
- One bedroom with double bed
- A large bathroom with bath, separate shower, basin and toilet
- A large, fully equipped kitchen (kettle, coffee machine, milk frother, toaster, microwave, dishwasher)
- A comfortable sitting room with TV and woodburner
- A unique study room with a library of relevant books and display of finds
- Outdoor table and chairs in a sunny courtyard
- Stone wash house (shared) with washing machine, tumble dryer and airers. It’s also a good place to wash off walking boots, rub down dogs or dry wet coats.
You can see all of the rooms of these historic holiday house in the gallery.
What’s provided and local provisions
These are the basics provided, so you can plan ahead:
- Enough toilet roll, dishwasher tablets, bin bags, liquid hand soap, shower gel and cleaning products to get you through your whole stay (simply too boring to pack or shop for!)
- Caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee pods for the Nespresso Citiz machine (takes all Nespresso compatible pods)
- 1 litre of oat milk, with dairy or other milk provided instead on request
- Teabags (Yorkshire and Earl Grey, but others available on request) and sugar
- A small, unopened bottle of olive oil
- Salt and pepper in grinders
- Plenty of tea towels and dish cloths
- Washing detergent and fabric conditioner, should you want to do laundry
- Fresh herbs: please help yourself to the herbs which grow around the house. We have bay, rosemary, sage and thyme all year round, with mint, chives, parsley and oregano in the summer
- Please just say if it would be helpful to have anything else in stock for your arrival and we’ll sort it
Whilst Barton is a tiny hamlet, Bidford-on-Avon is a mile away, either a 10-15 minute walk over the meadows or a drive of a few minutes over the medieval bridge. Bidford has a Co-Op and a Budgens supermarket, plus a pharmacy and convenience stores.
There are Waitrose stores 10 minutes away in two directions: Alcester and Stratford-upon-Avon. The Hillers Farm Shop is a similar distance away and there is an ‘honesty box’ farm shop a bit nearer at Weston. Stratford-upon-Avon and Evesham are each about 15 minutes away, with all the major stores. Please just ask if you’d like to know about anything more specific.
Want a holiday in a historic house but don’t want to drive?
Let us take the strain by arranging your holiday transport, at cost. Please let us know what you need before booking, from a quick lift to the local bus stop or train station to driving you around an agreed holiday itinerary.
If you are happy to drive but could just do with a little local advice about parking and ways to ensure your holiday is stress-free, that’s included in your rental, if you want it.
If you are bringing your own car, there is ample parking in the private, gravel yard and gates to the road can be closed if necessary.
TV, Wi-fi and fans
A 43″ smart TV – with Freely – is provided, but you can roll it back into the cupboard under the stairs if you prefer.
The mobile signal in the area is poor, varying by network but patchy around the house. However, wi-fi reaches all parts of the house and is the best speed available in the area.
Although Wisson Hill stays cool in the summer, three rechargeable ‘silent’ fans are provided for extra comfort.
Is this historic holiday house suitable for children?
Many children have grown up in this house but parents will need to decide for themselves whether they think the house is suitable for their family. Hopefully the videos provided will help, but please ask if you have any specific questions. A highchair can be provided.
Are dogs welcome?
Dogs are definitely welcome. In fact, we offer total dog-friendliness with a dog-sitting service, so you can enjoy your holiday without worrying about your dog if any outings are not suitable or safe for your dog to join you.
Of course owners are expected to clear up after dogs and only bring pets which can be trusted to behave - no damage to the house or furniture, or endless barking, please.
As an old house, is it suitable for all guests?
As a listed and old property, there are limitations for access into and around the house. Before flood defences were built around the village, the house was liable to flooding, so the entrance involves a step up. Whilst the double-winder stairs comply with current building regulations, there is no lift or stairlift, and the bathroom is on the first floor.
Do I need to bring my own washing up liquid, tea towels, and so on?
No, there is no need for you to add these practical essentials to your 'to do' list when heading off on holiday. As well as all bed linen and towels, shampoo, shower gel, soap and cleaning materials and in the bath room, with a reasonable supply of toilet roll. In the kitchen you will find tea towels, dish clothes and a brush, hand soap, washing-up liquid, dishwasher tablets, plus coffee, tea and sugar. If you find you are missing something when you arrive, please do ask, rather than going to the shop to buy far more than you need.
Are there shops nearby?
Yes, there are two supermarkets (Co-op and Budgens) in Bidford-on-Avon, which is a mile away: a couple of minutes in a car or a 10-minute walk along the river and over the meadow. There is also a pharmacy, a lovely cafe, and other facilities. Larger supermarkets are 10-15 minutes away in Stratford-upon-Avon, Alcester and Evesham and include Tesco, Aldi, Waitrose and M&S.
Genuine, authentic 500-year old history to see and touch
This is your place if:
- You are fascinated by old buildings and want to experience living in one
- Touching and seeing original 500-year old buildings sets your pulse racing
- You want to understand historic details and ask questions
- You’d rather see the traces of the past than have them tidied away
Wisson Hill is unusual. Restoration has been directed by the needs of the house, rather than any particular ‘look’ in mind, so the current result is a rich collection of historic features, drawn together with authentic colours and materials. In some places, these features may look a little unfinished, but as they are valuable clues to the past use of the house, genuine history lovers will hopefully appreciate this approach. The gallery of photos shows the whole house, rooms and spotlights a few favourite features.
This house literally tells a story, from the landowners who built it, to the flourishing family who lived and farmed here from 1530 through the seventeenth century, leaving traces of their hopes in their enhancements to the building and their fears in the apotropaic marks in every room, from burn marks to daisy wheels.
Direct owner contact
You can ask as many questions as you like, directly to the owner, from the moment you find this website, through booking, throughout your stay and after. It is probably apparent that Wisson Hill is more of a passion than a property and I would be more than happy to chat about any aspect of the history or house restoration that interests you.
A private history library, museum and traditional games room
Over 20 years, I am have collected relevant books, ready to share them with fellow enthusiasts. They cover :
- Domestic life through the centuries, from Tudor to nineteenth century
- Construction and repair of old buildings, particularly timber frame
- Context of the age
- Local context
Have a peep at the display of small finds recovered from the site during various stages of restoration, from clay pipes and a bone flute to horse shoes and medieval pottery fragments.
To fully get into the Tudor mood, a selection of traditional games are in the study, including:
- Shove ha’penny
- Nine Men’s Morris
- Draughts
- Chess
- Backgammon
- Cards
- Dominos
- Marbles
Get outdoors on foot, bike or kayak
Two fully equipped kayaks (with buoyancy aids) and two bicycles (with helmets) are available for guests to use.
Questions people ask about staying in a very old house
What is it like to stay in a 500-year old house
Nothing is straight, from wonky walls to sloping floors. The main effect of that is getting tables, beds and chairs to sit level without wobbling: you will notice a lot of wood and slate blocks under table and bed legs! The house creaks a little but not much more than many modern houses.
Is such an old house cold in the winter?
A timber frame and stone house with old leaded windows certainly does not retain heat as well as a modern house. But a combination of modern central heating, an efficient woodburner, heavy, lined curtains and thick duvets makes it very cosy in winter.
Is it scary at night in a house that dates back to the Tudors?
I have never found it creepy in nearly 20 years. The burn marks around the house remind you how much previous inhabitants relied on and were frightened by fire, so it is easy to imagine them sitting around the fire, talking, singing or maybe reading by the low, flickering light. Even knowing so many names of the people who lived in the house over the centuries, nobody has ever reporting seeing or feeling anything creepy.
What can you see of the Tudor house?
The original oak trusses (dendro-dated to 1530) can be seen in various places. Whilst elm cannot be dated in the same way as oak, the majority of the timber frame structure is Tudor, and several of the wattle and daub infill panels seem to be original from that time. Almost all of the timbers show some marks to witness their long history, from apotropaic and carpenters' markings to moved window or door openings. Most of the floor joists, rafters, braces and floorboards date from the sixteenth century, blackened in places, or showing old limewash. The flagstone floors in the sitting room study are very old, if not Tudor, and the stones have never been lifted, so you can see how accurately they were cut and fitted by the craftsmen of the age.