Stoneywell

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• Uncover the story - A reaction to the damaging effects of Victorian-era industrialisation, the Arts and Crafts movement’s aim was to change the value placed on how things were made. <hr> One of its founders was William Morris, and trainee architect Ernest Gimson, son of one of Leicester’s most important manufacturers, Josiah Gimson, met him at a Secular Society meeting in the city aged just 19. Mutually impressed by each other, Morris steered Gimson’s career, and his place as one of the most influential figures in the movement was secured. <hr> A lasting legacy of his creative genius is Stoneywell in Ulverscroft, a cottage he designed for his brother, Sydney, around 1898. True to the Arts and Crafts philosophy, it nestles in and amongst the Charnwood Forest landscape, crafted from local stone and built to hug the contours of the land. <hr> Acquired by the National Trust in 2012 from Gimson’s grandson, visitors, who must book in advance, are in for a treat as they explore a rare example of a property that embraces all things Arts and Crafts, both inside and out. <hr> A shuttle bus runs between the car park and the house, where an expert guide will help you to discover 11 rooms over seven floors. They’ll point out not-to-be-missed nooks and crannies, while you enjoy exploring this quirky cottage. <hr> Original items include Gimson’s iconic ladder-back, rush-seated chairs, an oak table by Sidney Barnsley and slate lintels quarried at nearby Swithland. Outside is equally delightful, with four acres of gardens planted to provide stunning colour – from carpets of bluebells to stunning rhododendrons – no matter when you visit. <hr> Borrow a blanket and bring a picnic to enjoy in the meadow garden or on the tennis court, where you can relax in the peaceful surroundings of the Charnwood Forest