Alastair Sawday's Special Places to Stay in Britain in association with Country Living Magazine...

A medieval manor house and all that goes with it, plus the necessary modern touches where they matter. It looks imposing, outside arched mullion windows, jutting gables, tall chimneys, while the interior is, quite breathtaking, manorial, with all the cultured trappings you would expect. Henry V111 housed Archbishop Cramner here, so it seems appropriate that he is commemorated in the Cramner room by a huge engraved Elizabethan stone fireplace. Bedrooms are sunny, luxurious and charming with views over the grounds. Bradford on Avon is delightful, and Bath is close by.

"A Guide to Garden Visits", with welcoming places to stay - by Judith Hitching...

"You will rarely - very rarely - be able to stay in a home with as much history as this one. Mainly dating from the 13th century, Henry VIII's prelate Archbishop Cranmer knew it well, and the fireplace in today's living room is engraved with Elizabethan writing. Roots go back even further - excavations uncovered a curious leather shield dating to the reign of Alfred the Great in the 9th Century. The manor has been the family home of the Dennings for many years, and now they welcome guests to their stunning house which has wonderful furniture and is adorned with family portraits. Outside, in 2.5 acres of garden, are well-mown striped lawns, with some of the original borders still in place. The five large double/twin bedrooms have all the modern comforts. If you want self-catering, the Dower House sleeps 6. You can walk to a good village pub/restaurant in the evenings."

Recommended Country Hotels of Britain 2000...

The warm stone façade of this ancient manor house has gazed across the glories of the Avon Valley since the 13th Century. Romantic, steeped in history and rich in character it is first and foremost a family home which has been tenderly modernised to enable its time honoured features to blend in subtle fashion with the requirement of today. The Cranmer Room displays an enormous fireplace engraved with Elizabethan writing and the whole house reflects a medieval heritage closely nurtured and preserved by the owners Elizabeth and John Denning. This fascinating place in which to stay with charges for a double room with bath room en-suite representing exceptional value. A splendidly appointed Dower House in the grounds may be booked for self-catering holidays. AA premier Selected, RAC Highly Commended.