Columbine Hall

Columbine Hall is a Grade II* listed historic house in Suffolk, and a member of Historic Houses. Read about its history, architecture and gardens, plus how to visit and what's nearby.

About Columbine Hall

Columbine Hall stands at Stowupland near Stowmarket in Suffolk, a timber-framed manor house more than 600 years old.

Hew Stevenson and his late wife, the journalist Leslie Geddes-Brown, bought the house in 1993 and have spent three decades restoring it and its five acres of gardens.

The house and grounds change every year, with new planting schemes and shifting displays of furniture inside.

Visitors can see it on guided tours and open garden days by appointment.

History of Columbine Hall

The house at Stowupland dates back more than six centuries, making it one of the older timber-framed halls surviving in this part of Suffolk. It passed into private hands in 1993 when Hew Stevenson and Leslie Geddes-Brown took it on, and they began opening it to visitors by appointment from 1999.

Architecture of Columbine Hall

Columbine Hall is a timber-framed medieval manor house, with the surrounding estate developed over centuries rather than built to a single design.

Worth knowing

Leslie Geddes-Brown, co-owner of the hall until her death, was a well-known interiors and gardens journalist, and her writing helped shape the house's public profile.

Gardens & grounds at Columbine Hall

The five acres of grounds include a walled garden, a formal parterre, a bog garden, woodland and a wildflower meadow, tended by head gardener Kate Elliott for nearly three decades.

Plan your visit to Columbine Hall

Official site Google Maps Waze

Nearest station: Stowmarket Rail Station (1.6 miles)

Open by appointment; check official website for dates and booking.

Admission

Historic Houses members must pay for entry

Is this your property? Update this listing for free

Places to visit near Columbine Hall

Haughley House

historic house 2.7 miles

View Haughley House on heritage map

St Mary the Virgin's Church, Stonham Parva

church 2.8 miles

View St Mary the Virgin's Church, Stonham Parva on heritage map

St Mary's Church, Badley

church 3.1 miles

View St Mary's Church, Badley on heritage map

Haughley Park

historic house 4.0 miles

Visit Haughley Park View Haughley Park on heritage map

Helmingham Hall

garden 7.6 miles

Visit Helmingham Hall View Helmingham Hall on heritage map

Historic places nearby

Within 5 miles of Columbine Hall there are 4 historic properties, including 2 churchs and 2 historic houses, across Churches Conservation Trust and Historic Houses sites.

2 Churches Conservation Trust

2 Historic Houses

2 Church

2 Historic house

See these 4 sites on the heritage map

Within 10 miles of Columbine Hall there are 8 historic properties, including 4 churchs and 2 historic houses, across Churches Conservation Trust and Historic Houses sites.

4 Churches Conservation Trust

3 Historic Houses

4 Church

2 Historic house

1 Garden

1 Landscape

See these 8 sites on the heritage map

Within 20 miles of Columbine Hall there are 43 historic properties, including 18 churchs, 13 historic houses and 2 historic buildings, across Churches Conservation Trust, Historic Houses and English Heritage sites.

17 Churches Conservation Trust

12 Historic Houses

7 English Heritage

6 National Trust

18 Church

13 Historic house

2 Historic building

2 Mill

2 Priory

1 Abbey

1 Landscape

1 Castle

1 Archaeological site