One of the finest Elizabethan gatehouses in the country, our award winning turreted hideaway has hosted princes and prime-ministers. With sumptuous four poster beds and fireplaces this stately Shropshire retreat is perfect for honeymoons and special occasions. The property is self contained with its own private garden. Each of the two bedrooms have super king beds and are ensuite. The dinning room decorated in a hunting lodge style with open fire.
The space
The Gatehouse is a self-contained property that accommodates up to four adults (plus a child) in two separate suites and has its own private garden with fruit trees and a fountain.
There are two double bedrooms (Prince Rupert Suite and Thatcher Suite), two Turret Bathrooms, sitting room with a Tudor fireplace, kitchen, and a dining room with a Tudor fireplace that sits up to eight people.
The Prince Rupert Suite
This historic and romantic bedroom suite is especially popular with honeymoon couples or those celebrating an anniversary. It has a super king four poster bed and a roll top bath with a single bed suitable for a child. It is located up an atmospheric carved oak spiral staircase leading to the top floor where Prince Rupert hid from the Parliamentarian forces in 1646. The windows offer superb views of the unspoilt Shropshire countryside that stretches out across the old deer park. PG Wodehouse, who was brought up around Bridgnorth, called this Shropshire countryside ‘the Paradise of England’.
The beamed top floor banqueting chamber was originally used as a ‘prospect tower’ for the hunting lodge – with views stretching for miles – as well as serving as a viewing chamber for the ‘ladies of the house’ to watch the hunt in the deer park around the Hall.
The Prince Rupert suite is perfect for special romantic occasions as it boasts a stunning super-king four poster canopy bed decorated in a 16th century-style linen fabric depicting scenes from an Elizabethan hunt by the artisan Melissa White.
There is a free-standing claw bath on a raised oak platform inside the bedroom as well as a luxuriously appointed Lefroy Brooks shower in the en suite Turret Bathroom. The huge room also features an oak library section with two comfortable arm-chairs, a writing desk and an armchair reading area.
The suite also has Wi-Fi and Freeview TV.
The Thatcher Suite
This suite is named after the former British prime minister – and her husband Sir Denis – who spent two nights in the bedroom whilst staying at Upton Cressett in 1994 as a guest of Sir Bill Cash MP.
The Thatcher Suite has a super-king canopy bed with ornate 16th century plasterwork, oak panelling and mullion windows overlooking the Elizabethan apple garden.
The room has a wet-room-style shower room in the turret with Lefroy Brooks fittings, marble tops and under floor heating.
The sitting room has a working Tudor fire-place below a beautiful ornamental plasterwork over-mantel. The ceiling also has fine original 16th century ornate plasterwork. Freeview TV and DVD player. The property has WiFi.
The Dining Room
The dining room can seat 10 people and is decorated in the style of a hunting lodge, with a romantic open fire place.
The washing machine is located in a room in the courtyard. Please bring washing powder with you. Washing basket and drying rack provided.
Guests can unload their cars in the bay outside The Gatehouse steps but we ask that during their stay all cars are parked in the Hall car-park.
Guest access
Guests have their own private Elizabethan style apple garden with fountain. In the summer there is outdoor furniture and a BBQ provided. Guests are allowed to walk around the grounds of the Hall and down to the Norman church of St.Michael’s.
Other things to note
Guests have access to the historic gardens of Upton Cressett.
Both bedroom suites are reached up an oak spiral staircase which is not suitable for small children or infirm adults. It has a rope banister but please be cautious.
The Gatehouse can be taken with our adjacent Coach House (2 double ensuite rooms and a twin) and Moat House (2 double ensuite rooms) and our Cider House (1 double, 1 double with a single bed) for parties of up to 20 guests.
* If you wish to host events for groups of more than those staying onsite, weddings or larger parties please contact the owner for prices.
Linen is changed weekly for those staying more than 7 nights.
Services offered by pre arrangement –
Luxury Breakfast hamper of local produce can be pre-ordered (additional fee) This will feed 4/5 guest breakfast for the weekend. Please enquire for more details.
A cot and high chair can be provided on request.
Heating
There is gas central heating in all rooms of the Gatehouse, along with under-floor heating in the bathrooms. There are working log fires in the sitting room and dining room. We provide a starter pack of kindling wood and some logs on arrival. For guest wanting to use the log fire all day and evening can purchase more logs by the net bag at cost from us. You may wish to pre-order these before your stay. Equally Seals Fuels in Bridgnorth sell them.
Kitchen
The fully equipped kitchen has an electric cooker, oven, microwave, American fridge/freezer. There are glasses, cutlery and crockery for up to eight guests. Basic ingredients such as tea, coffee, sugar and black pepper are provided but it is advised that guests stop off on route to do their own shopping. Bridgnorth is our local market town only 4 miles away.