Our Story
Our family has lived in Shropshire for five generations. About 50 years ago, we bought the Old School in Clungunford, by then a derelict ruin, used as a grain store. The school had been built in 1856 by the villagers themselves, to a design by the Gothic architect A E Perkins, on land gifted by the local squire. For over 100 years it provided an education to the 90 or so children of the village, eventually closing in 1961 due to a dwindling number of pupils. The limestone-faced Victorian gothic building roughly mirrors the layout of a church with a vaulted schoolroom with large west window for the juniors and a smaller room for the infants. Adjoining the school is the Head teacher’s residence.
In 1973, the family embarked on an imaginative restoration and enhancement of the school, creating around it beautiful formal and landscaped gardens, including a large pool and collection of fountains. The vision was to create a place where future generations could enjoy summers and holidays together; a sanctuary where cousins and friends scattered around the world could gather. The restored and modernised houses give the family a “home away from home”, awaiting the arrival of relations and long-standing friends who regularly come to visit. Over the years we have made many beautiful memories in this magical place.
In 2023, we began letting Trillow House, the former teacher’s residence, to guests who want to explore this long undisturbed part of the Welsh Marches. Clungunford is an ideal base from which to explore the profusion of border castles, walk the famous trails of Offa’s Dyke and the Shropshire Way, or other, more obscure, local footpaths while afterwards indulging in the gastronomic delights of Ludlow. With its secluded, idyllic garden, Trillow House provides a wonderful refuge at the end of a day of sightseeing, or even for those who want to do nothing at all. We try to make sure that our guests feel at home so they can spend memorable time with friends and family. The house continues to be used as a much-loved family destination; we visit regularly throughout the year. Our hope is that our guests will come to love it as much as we do!