This Historic Somerset House Was Designed By The Architect Of Oxford’s Bridge Of Sighs

There’s something undeniably romantic about a house with a past, especially one shaped by an architect synonymous with Oxford’s historic skyline. Thorne House in Somerset sits within 5.7 acres of grounds, complete with an organic kitchen garden, helipad and a charming two-bedroom cottage. The Grade II listed home is now on the market for £3.5m. 

Thorne House: A House of Many Lives

Complete with window seats and ornate plasterwork, the library at Thorne House is rich in period detail

The History

Steeped in history, Thorne first appears in the Domesday Book, having once being a small farming settlement divided between two estates. One was held by Drew, ancestor of the Montacute family and later Earls of Salisbury, and the other by Ralph the Priest.

The house as it stands today is largely the creation of James Hooper, a 19th-century lawyer with a distinct ambition for grandeur. After purchasing a smaller property on the site from Major Pearson in 1869, Hooper undertook a comprehensive rebuild, with only the southern wing and former coach house surviving from this earlier phase. A pump still bears Captain Pearson’s initials and the date 1837.

Hooper commissioned a new house on the site in 1882 from architect T.G. Jackson, best known for his work at Oxford University, and responsible for landmarks including the chapel at Radley College in Oxfordshire and the Grade II listed Bridge of Sighs (technically named Hertford Bridge) over New College Lane. Though of the most iconic sights of the university town, the bridge which connects two Hertford College buildings, wasn’t completed until 1914. While it’s more common name stems from the belief that it was intended as a replica of the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, this was not Jackson’s intention, with the bridge’s style actually better resembling Venice’s Rialto Bridge.

Jackson, who was awarded a Baronetcy for his architectural work, is also noted for the design of the front entrance hall in Burlington House, London, and various buildings at Brighton College in East Sussex, which he attended himself.  

Expanding the estate during his ownership, Hooper acquired additional land across the village as his public life flourished. He was appointed Recorder of South Molton in 1877, followed by his elevation to County Court Judge in 1883. Following his death in 1895, Thorne House passed to his widow Rhoda, before later being inherited by his stepdaughter. In 1948, the property was sold to Stanley Roberts, a leading figure in the West Country gloving industry, before later passing to Westland Aircraft Limited in 1952.

Look Inside

Today, Thorne House retains a wealth of original features. Stained glass survives in the drawing room, library and landing areas, while interiors are enriched with wood panelling, ornate ceiling mouldings and period fireplaces, notably in the second bedroom and two of the attic rooms. The first floor comprises six bedrooms, with a total of ten across the house and further potential on the second floor to create additional accommodation if desired. Large bay windows in the dining hall frame views over the south-facing garden, drawing natural light deep into the interiors.

In total, the property extends to approximately 7,900 sqft across three floors, complemented by an attached two-bedroom cottage, including a sitting room, dining room, study, storage room and kitchen. A range of outbuildings include garages, stables and a particularly impressive coach house, featuring a 36 ft wood-panelled entertaining space and a distinctive four-faced clock tower, bringing both character and versatility to the estate. Set amongst rolling lawns, outside the property offers up landscaped gardens, a pond, a walled vegetable garden and an orchard, a paddock, terraces, outbuildings, and several wooden greenhouses (one of which contains an over 50-year-old divine)

On the market for £3.5. Find out more at search.savills.com