Hermit's Cell the Root House

HERMIT'S CELL

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1320851
Date first listed:
10-Nov-1983
List Entry Name:
Hermit's Cell the Root House
Statutory Address:
HERMIT'S CELL
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Location

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1320851
Date first listed:
10-Nov-1983
List Entry Name:
Hermit's Cell the Root House
Statutory Address 1:
HERMIT'S CELL
Statutory Address 2:
THE ROOT HOUSE

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
HERMIT'S CELL
Statutory Address:
THE ROOT HOUSE

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:
South Gloucestershire (Unitary Authority)
Parish:
Badminton
National Grid Reference:
ST 81134 83850

Details

BADMINTON C.P. BADMINTON PARK ST 88 SW

7/33 Hermit's Cell alternatively known as The Root House

- II*

Park building or rustic folly used as a hermitage. Circa- 1750 by Thomas Wright of Durham. Constructed of wood with a thatched roof which has overhanging eaves : 4 large knotty tree trunks at the corners; the walls are infilled with branches, roots and sawn timber. Single storey small square building with bowed sides which have 2-light pointed Gothick windows. Pediments to front and rear, also formed out of tree trunks, with oval windows in the tympanum, formed out of hollow sections of trunks. At east end is the entrance : the rustic plank door is framed by irregular inverted fork of a tree. At the rear (west), a similar inverted fork shelters a rustic seat which has an ogee back with an inscription of nailheads, which reads: "HERE LOUNGERS LOITER - HERE THE WEARY REST". Interior: segmental arched niches with pilasters to sides and rear, lined with bark and moss; ribbed and panelled suspended ceiling constructed of timber with bark, moss and burr elm covering. Harris, E., Country Life, 9.IX.71. and Jones, B. Follies and Grottoes, 1953, revised 1974.

Listing NGR: ST8113483850

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
34242
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Jones, B, Follies and Grottoes, (1974)
Country Life in 9 September, (1971)

Other
Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic interest in England, Part 1 Avon,

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Hermit's Cell the Root House

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 07-Jun-2026 at 06:16:17.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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