Shockerwick House, Bath, England

Shockerwick was originally the site of a Court which tried local offences. It was presided over in the reign of Henry II by one Adam of Shockerwicke. In the 17th century it became the property of the Husseys and was called Hussey's Court. In 1740 the estate and ruined manor house were bought by the Wiltshire family.

In about 1750 Walter Wiltshire commissioned Wood the Elder to build a house and lay out the grounds. Walter Wiltshire (1719-1799) was the founder of a business carrying goods by wagon between London and Bath. He was influential in establishing Bath as a flourishing and fashionable city. He was a good friend of Gainsborough, who often painted in his orangery. From 1761 to 1774 Wiltshire carried Gainsborough's paintings to London.

Whilst staying at Shockerwick in 1805, William Pitt received the news of Napoleon's victory at Austerlitz. When the Princess Victoria visited Bath to open the Royal Victoria Park in 1830 she viewed the valuable collection of paintings at Shockerwick, some of them by Gainsborough.

Some time after 1883 the estate was bought by Charles Morley, MP for Brecon. It then stayed in the Morley family (successful hosiery manufacturers) until 1955.

In 1899 the ‘Bath Argos' described the gardens as ‘models of neatness and order, and the ancient and historic portion, with the romantic walks and beautiful classical fountain, entirely restored. Near here is the well and the summer-house, now an orangery, to which Gainsborough used to retire to sketch and where he spent many of his happiest hours. The drive from the London Road through the well-timbered park is even and well-kept, and the trees are some of the choicest and most scarce in the Kingdom. Near the stables are some fine Turkey Oaks, and in front of the house a very uncommon and handsome tree known as the hawthorn-leaved alder.'

At the turn of the century extensive alterations to the house were carried out by Earnest George. The Duke and Duchess of Newcastle bought the estate in 1961. In 1970 it was sold to Wills Tobacco, who converted it into a training centre.

In 1983 it changed hands again and was opened as a private nursing home.