While on a circular cycle ride from Syston to Rothley, I passed Stoneywell, a National Trust property.

I decided to take a look around.

The cottage is difficult to find. Indeed, the only way in is by hopping on to the shuttle bus from the nearby car park. You are strongly advised to book a tour place in advance if you wish to look around the house. Though there are gardens and woodlands you can walk around as well, the house is very much the focal point. I hadn’t pre-booked, but thankfully, it was a quiet day.

Stoneywell was the home of the Gimson family. Built between 1897 and 1899, the design was the creation of Ernest Gimson, whose father had founded and ran an engineering company at the Vulcan Works next to the Midland Railway.

This is one of five Ulverscroft houses designed by Ernest Gimson (so-called after the local Ulverscroft woods).

A young Ernest Gimson had met and been impressed by William Morris. Morris, along with John Ruskin, was keen to revive craftmanship. After beginning an architectural career, these ideas from the arts and crafts movement would influence the rest of Gimson’s career.

However, before entering the house I took a quick look around the gardens.

This was formerly a tennis court …

Soon, it was time for the tour. Upon entering the first room you gain an understanding of the attention to detail that Ernest Gimson placed upon the design of the cottage.

For it wasn’t just the building itself, but he also designed much of the furniture too. In the design of furniture, he worked alongside Sidney and Ernest Barnsley for much of his career.

As we went around the cottage, it seemed every bit of space had been carefully utilised, for it isn’t the largest property.

The cottage suffered a fire in 1938, and Ernest Gimson’s son, Humphrey, re-roofed it (it was originally thatch) and made a few alterations. It was then kept in the family until being sold to the National Trust in 2015.

After leaving the cottage, I took a little walk up to the walled garden.

Time was getting on and I needed to finish my cycle ride. It had been a brief and enjoyable stop. I was glad to have paid it a visit.

Stoneywell is well worth a quick visit.