House & Family History: In 1865 the Swell Bowl Estate was sold to Alfred Urbain Sartoris, who built a new Cotswold style L-plan house, completed in 1867, to the designs of Ewan Christian. Nicholas Kingsley, writing in "The Country Houses of Gloucestershire: Volume Three, 1830-2000," says of Christian's work at Abbotswood, it "cannot be regarded as one of his better buildings." In 1901 Mark Fenwick, a member of the Newcastle banking family, purchased Abbotswood. In 1902 Fenwick engaged Edwin Lutyens to make major alterations to the House and to layout a new garden. Lutyen's first reaction when seeing Abbotswood was "blow it up and start again." Fenwick died in 1945 and in 1946 Abbotswood was sold to inventor Harry Ferguson, who created a lake in the grounds and improved the gardens. The Scully family own the House today and open the gardens to the public in the summer months.

Comments: Nicholas Kingsley believes that Abbotswood is Lutyen's most important work in Gloucestershire.

Country Life: Sep 12, 1991, pgs. 122-125.

House Listed: Grade II

Park Listed: Grade II

Current Seat / Home of: Scully family

Past Seat / Home of: Alfred Urbain Sartoris, mid-19th century. Mark Fenwick, 1901-45. Harry Ferguson, 20th century.

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home

House Open to Public: Limited Access to Grounds Only

Historic Houses Member: No