Dyrham was designated as a conservation area on 30th July 1975. A copy of the full statutory conservation area leaflet and maps - the result of a public consultation process, can now be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat pdf format.
Setting
The small village of Dyrham is situated eight miles north of Bath on the western edge of the Cotswold escarpment. The River Boyd runs through the village and Dyrham is famous for its baroque mansion, Dyrham Park, which is grade I-listed.
Dyrham lies within the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is also covered by greenbelt policies. The Cotswold Way passes through the village and Dyrham Park grounds are listed on English Heritage's register of parks and gardens.
History
Dyrham's long history goes back to 577 when Cuthwine and Ceawlin, two Saxon leaders, fought against the Britons and killed three of their kings - Conmail, Condidan and Farinmail on the site.
Dyrham Park completely replaced a late mediaeval house of the Denys family and until 1957 was the home of the Blathwayt family. Dyrham Park is now under the protection of the National Trust. William Blathwayt married Mary Wynter, heiress to the property in 1686. He was an influential diplomat and civil servant who spent much time abroad. Blathwayt's house was built by two architects, William Talman and the Frenchman Samuel Hauderoy.
Hauderoy built the west front which now faces the formal gardens as an addition to the mediaeval house and it was probably finished by 1694. The stable block followed, designed by Talman and largely supervised by Edward Wilcox, the foreman. Much more radical was the addition of the east front in pure baroque style which took the place of the older house. This was Talman's work between 1698 and 1704. The monumental orangery which continues the main east front cleverly hides the stables behind and was started in 1701 by Talman.
Within the house there are many 17th century treasures including tapestries, furniture and paintings, many of which are Dutch in origin. William Blathwayt was Secretary of State to William II and travelled frequently to the Netherlands.
The magnificent gardens were originally laid out in the Dutch manner by George Loudon but were influenced by Repton. Indeed the park was famous for its water gardens and to the east of the house there used to be a cascade of 224 steps running down towards the house. The house and grounds are open to the public.
The Church of St Peter (grade I-listed) nestles against the side of the hill, alongside the house to the west. It is a charming church of the mid-13th century, containing a Norman font and mediaeval features including tiles and stained glass.
Character
Dyrham village clusters around the church and walled gardens of the manor house. The winding lanes and hilly ground add much to the rural character of the village. Many cottages and houses are of the 17th and 18th centuries, including the 17th century rectory, which is grade II-listed.
The village to the west follows the line of two narrow lanes on either side of the River Boyd. This descends by a series of waterfalls and flows underneath the village street. To the north and east the steep wooded slopes enclose the village. The grounds of Dyrham Park contribute to the setting of the village, the walls of the park being a particular feature of note. To the west of the house a small cascade and two lakes provide a pleasing contrast with the sounds of the waterfall adding to the tranquil scene. To the east of the house, within the park, a splendid statute of Neptune by C C Gibber is situated.
The tree-topped hills of the park, including oak, beech, ash, sweet chestnut and the avenue of limes along the church walk, provide picturesque views with a more formal setting.
In recent years Dyrham has changed quite radically, from being a feudal hamlet with a resident quire to a commuter village, being conveniently near to major transport routes. Although infilling and new development has taken place, Dyrham still retains its charm and unique character. The buildings, using local materials such as Cotswold stone and ranging in size from small cottages to the grander houses, provide variety and interest.