Shaw House

About

Shaw House is one of Newbury’s finest Elizabethan mansions, built in 1581 for the wealthy clothier Thomas Dolman. Its elegant red‑brick façade, symmetrical gables, and tall chimneys make it a textbook example of late‑16th‑century architecture, reflecting the prosperity of the region’s cloth trade. The house quickly became a landmark of status and refinement, admired for its grand proportions and richly panelled interiors. One of the most interesting chapters in its history came during the English Civil War. In 1644, King Charles I used Shaw House as his headquarters during the Second Battle of Newbury. Tradition holds that a musket ball struck a window frame near the king—an anecdote that has become part of the house’s enduring lore. Over the centuries, Shaw House passed through several families and later served as a school, which helped preserve the building even as its condition declined. A major restoration in the early 21st century returned it to its former splendour, revealing original plasterwork, fireplaces, and timber craftsmanship.

Newbury United Kingdom

Location

Shaw House is located in Newbury, a market town in West Berkshire, England. You will find the Elizabethan manor on Church Road, just north of the town centre, set back from the road with lawns and formal gardens. Built in 1581 by the wealthy cloth merchant Thomas Dolman, the house played a role in the Second Battle of Newbury during the English Civil War and later served as a school. Today it is open to the public, with restored rooms, exhibitions about its history, and a programme of events and workshops. The Great Hall, oak panelling, and period details give a sense of Tudor and Jacobean life, while the gardens are a quiet place for a walk. From Shaw House, Newbury’s main attractions are only a short distance away. The Kennet and Avon Canal runs through the town, and the towpath offers flat walks and narrowboat trips toward Kintbury and Hungerford. Highclere Castle, known for filming Downton Abbey, is about a fifteen minute drive south and has extensive grounds and Egyptian antiquities. Donnington Castle, a dramatic 14th-century ruin with views over the countryside, is just outside town. Newbury town centre has independent shops, the West Berkshire Museum, and the Corn Exchange theatre. For green space, Victoria Park and the Northcroft and Goldwell Park areas are close by.