The original manor of Bishopstrow was originally built in the late 18th century and was located on the opposite side of the main road to Warminster near the banks of the river Wylye. Its gardens were extensively landscaped and, along with the Doric temple built in 1770, included the summerhouse, boathouse and pump room.
In 1815 Squire William Temple built a tunnel under the main road to join the two areas of the grounds and in 1817, following a fire in the original house, a new house was begun on the present site. The house remained the property of the Temple until 1950 when it was sold to Keith Neal a leading collector of firearms. Each of his 2000 firearms was ready to fire at a moment’s notice - usually at a target which stood on the lawn outside the drawing room! It was also during this time that the resident company of the horse Cavalry stationed at Warminster used Bishopstrow stables to house their horse.
In 1976 Kurt Schiller bought Bishopstrow and opened it in 1977 as a 10 room hotel. In the next 10 years the hotel was extended to 28 rooms and the swimming pools and tennis courts were built. By 1988 the hotel was sold to the Blandy Family, makers of Madeira wine and famous as the owners of the five star Reid hotel on the island of Madeira. In 1995 however, the Blandy’s were forced to sell the hotel, now badly in need of renovation to three partners who refurbished the bedrooms and added a Michaeljohn hair salon and the health and beauty spa.
In 2001 Bishopstrow became the 6th hotel in the growing Von Essen collection of hotels. von Essen hotels instituted a major renovation, completed in 2004, of the indoor swimming pool and new changing rooms. The hair salon has also transferred to Perry Carson, a world renowned stylist who has worked at some of the world’s most exclusive hair salons in Mayfair and all over the world including South East Asia and Australia.
Our gardens are also being renovated, with ambitious plans to regenerate the old manor house site to form a riverside wedding venue including an espalier arch, herb garden and seating area. The garden also produces many of the vegetables used in our kitchen.
History of Bishopstrow House - Now and Then
