Built / Designed For: Mander family

House & Family History: A manufacturer's manor house, Wightwick harkens back to the Tudor period, yet was designed by Edward Ould of Liverpool in two phases: the first was completed in 1887, while the second occurred in 1893, when the House was extended with the Great Parlour Wing. Ould's clients were the Mander family, paint manufacturers who had risen from Yeoman farmer origins to industrial merchant princes in Wolverhampton and its environs. The highly picturesque house that they created has timbered gables sailing above hard Ruabon brick walls and windows by Kempe. It was transformed into one of the best-surviving examples of a house built and furnished under the influence of the Arts & Crafts Movement as a result of the collecting ambitions of Sir Geoffrey and Lady Mander, who owned Wightwick in the early 20th century. It was they who presented the House to the National Trust. (We are most grateful to Gareth Williams for this history of Wightwick.)

Collections: Wightwick has original wallpapers and furnishings by William Morris and impressive collections of art by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Sir Edward Burne-Jones, William de Morgan, and other Pre-Raphaelite artists.

Garden & Outbuildings: Wightwick has a superb 17-acre Edwardian garden designed by Alfred Parsons and Thomas Mawson, internationally renowned garden designers, and a newly-reinstalled Kitchen Garden.

Country Life: CXXXIII, 1242, 1316, 1963.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Grade II

Past Seat / Home of: Sir Geoffrey Le Mesurier Mander, early 20th century.

Current Ownership Type: The National Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Visitor Attraction

House Open to Public: Yes

Phone: 01902-761-400

Fax: 01902-764-663

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Historic Houses Member: No