History

Kings Weston House - as it stands today - was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh for Edward Southwell (I) circa 1710. It is built of locally quarried stone and the exterior is Vanbrugh’s best-preserved medium sized house. This house replaced an earlier Tudor house.

The Manor of Kings Weston was once part of the Berkeley Estate, which was granted to Robert Fitzharding by Henry II. In 1570 Sir William Berkeley sold the Kings Weston portion of the estate, it changed hands several times and in 1679 was purchased by Sir Robert Southwell. Born in Ireland in 1635 Sir Robert, at the age of 29, was made Clerk of the Most Honourable Privy Council by Charles II. Having travelled extensively as an Envoy for the King (including negotiating a settlement between Spain and Portugal who had been at war for 28 years) he retired from public life in 1679 and in the same year purchased Kings Weston House.

In 1688 with the Revolution and James II’s expulsion, Robert returned to public life and became Secretary of State for Ireland under William III. The King spent a night at Kings Weston in 1690, having landed at the Lamplighters. He died in 1702 aged 66 and is buried in Henbury.Sir Robert’s eldest son was Edward (I) (1671-1730) who, like his father before him, became Secretary of State for Ireland. He was also an MP and had a son named Edward (II). Edward (I) was probably best remembered for having built Kings Weston House as we know it today.

Edward (II) (1705-1755) was also very involved in public life and became MP for Bristol from 1739-1754, he also had a son Edward (III) and a daughter Katherine. He died in 1755 aged 50, and was succeeded by his son who also became an MP. In 1776 Edward (III) became the 20th Baron de Clifford, he commissioned Robert Mylne to design the stables and Shirehampton Lodge, now the entrance to Shirehampton Park Golf Club. Mylne was also responsible for the redecoration and improvements of the principal rooms in the house during this period. A two-story extension was built at the rear, including kitchens and the present entrance to the north of the building. This extension would have covered most of the present rear car park but it was demolished in 1968. Edward (III) died in 1777 and his remains also lie in Henbury.

The estate then passed to his son, Edward (IV) who was only ten years old.In 1812 the enclosure laws were approved by Parliament and Edward (IV) purchased the marshland stretching from the House towards Avonmouth. Little more is documented until 1832 when Edward (IV), 21st Lord de Clifford, died without issue and the House was sold in 1833 to Mr Philip John Miles for £210,000. Following in the tradition of the House, Philip John Miles became an MP for Bristol from 1835-1837, he had purchased Leigh Court Estate and had the present mansion built there. Following the death of his first wife Philip John Miles married again and the eldest of his second family, Philip William Skynner Miles, inherited Kings Weston while the eldest son by his first marriage became the new owner of Leigh Court.

When P J Miles died in 1845 his estate was worth more than a million pounds, making him Bristol’s first recorded millionaire.P W S Miles financed the building of the railway and the docks at Avonmouth, bringing much work and prosperity to the region and helping to pave the way for the explosion of industry we see today. In 1865 he had a son and heir Philip Napier Miles. One morning, whilst out walking to Penpole Point, P W S Miles suffered a heart attack and died a few days later on 2nd October 1881 aged 65. He is also buried at Henbury.

The final Squire at Kings Weston House was Philip Napier Miles who was a gifted musician and composer and became a generous patron of music. Many young musicians were entertained at the House, including a very young Malcolm Sargent. During the First World War the House was converted into a hospital. On the 19th July 1935 aged 70, P N Miles died suddenly, leaving no heir, his cremated remains were interned in the family vault at Henbury.

To pay death duties the Kings Weston Estate was auctioned for £9,800 and the squires widow had a house built in the grounds, now Kings Weston School. Bristol Municipal Charities purchased Kings Weston House - intending to move QEH School from Berkeley Place. They had the kitchens removed from the north side of the House and began to erect dormitories in the garden, the remains of which are still visible today.With the outbreak of the Second World War, building work was abandoned and the House once again occupied by the military.

Following the war the House was leased to Bristol Education Committee for a school prior to the completion of the new estate at Lawrence Weston. Kings Weston House was then sold to Bristol College of Science and Technology, later to become Bath University School of Architecture. They remained in the House until 1970 when Bristol Corporation together with a 50% grant from the Home Office purchased the House for £305,000 to set up a Police Training Centre.

Avon & Somerset Police left for their new premises at Portishead in 1995 and the future of Kings Weston House looked very uncertain, boarded up to stop vandalism, this beautiful Georgian House was left neglected and desolate. The new millennium brought with it a new lease of life, the House, Gate House and five acres of grounds were bought privately with a view to refurbishing and opening for use and viewing by the public.

In 2001 Kings Weston House was re-opened with the ground floor used as a venue for both business and private events, the first and second floors let as serviced offices and a Tea Shop opening in one of the vaulted rooms on the lower ground floor.

Since re-opening, the House has acquired a license to hold ceremonies, both wedding and civil partnership. The House and grounds have also been much in demand for photography and filming and can be spotted in local and national media.