Discover Wrington

Wrington brings together several distinct themes: the medieval Church of All Saints, the designed landscape of Barley Wood, its gardens, and a route south behind the Conservation Area. If you are looking for hotels for a stay in Wrington, these points of interest can help you choose what to explore according to your interests. The historical garden information relates to different features and periods. Seasonal conditions and conditions tied to a sign also apply to the garden and cider offerings.

Church history in Wrington

The Church of All Saints dates back to a 13th-century foundation; its west tower was added around 1450. Stone busts of John Locke and Hannah More from the early 19th century are set into the doorway. The church therefore brings together several periods: its medieval foundation, the later addition of the tower, and the much more recent busts. The date of around 1450 applies to the west tower, not the busts. If you are interested in Wrington’s history, these architectural and artistic features offer concrete points of interest, without conflating the different parts of the church’s history into a single building phase.

The gardens and landscape of Barley Wood

The pleasure gardens and small park at Barley Wood were created to complement the cottage orné built for Hannah More in 1801. Formal gardens were added in 1911 to designs by Thomas H Mawson. The kitchen garden dates from 1901 and was created for Henry Herbert Wills, director of Imperial Tobacco Company. The dates therefore relate to different parts and developments of the grounds, not to a single landscaping project carried out all at once.

The landscape view adds a distinct feature: from Barley Wood, there are wide-ranging panoramic views across the Vale of Wrington and towards the northern escarpment of the Mendips. The garden history and the view are two different aspects of the same place. Both may be of interest to you: one tells the story of the designed gardens’ development, while the other looks out across the Vale and towards the Mendip escarpment.

Orchards, produce and seasonal offerings

More than 60 apple varieties grow in the unsprayed orchards of Barley Wood Orchard; the collection may change. The Barley Wood Walled Garden is planted with vegetables, fruit trained against the walls and apple orchards. Planting and produce may vary seasonally. Barley Wood therefore focuses on fruit growing as well as vegetables and other garden produce, although the specific planting may not be the same in every season.

Barley Wood Cafe serves homemade sweet treats and a small, weekly-changing lunch menu of sourdough toasties, inspired by produce from the kitchen garden. The café is open seasonally; food and seasonal opening arrangements may change. In the roundhouse at Barley Wood Walled Garden, pure apple juice and traditional ciders are made from apples grown at Barley Wood Orchard.

A separate visitor offering is available when the “Cider Barn Open” sign is displayed. When it is up, you can see the presses, taste juice and cider, enjoy a pint on the benches or take products away. The sign being displayed is the key condition for these activities. If you would like to include the café or cider offering in your plans, check beforehand whether the seasonal opening arrangements or the sign suit the timing of your visit.

A route near Wrington

The Two Rivers Way runs south behind Wrington’s Conservation Area. This is a different point of reference from the church and gardens: here, the focus is on a route in relation to the Conservation Area. If you are also interested in a route when choosing where to stay, this adds to the village’s historical and gardening themes. The location is specifically described as running south behind the Conservation Area.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Clevedon, Loxton, Portbury, Burrington, Winscombe, Weston-Super-Mare, Congresbury, Dundry.

For the broader travel guide: North Somerset.