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St. Catherine's
Court In the West Country of England lies a valley named for St. Catherine.
In this valley near Bath, the lush green countryside gives way to a hidden
jewel ‹ a grand sweep of Cotswold stone and mullion window that is St.
Catherine's Court, actress Jane Seymour's beautifully restored castle.
It is every dreamer's vision of a Medieval fantasy. A self-confessed English
country girl at heart, Ms. Seymour purchased the home with a desire to
establish an English country retreat for herself and her family.
Well-loved
by American audiences for years from her roles in romantic mini series
(War and Remembrance, Onassis: The Richest Man in the World) she now enjoys
mainstream public acclaim through her Emmy award-winning portrayal of
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. The success of this prime time leading role
is enjoyed by Ms.Seymour and her producer husband James Keach, (who occasionally
directs episodes of Dr. Quinn, while working on his many film projects)
as well as the couple's large, close family consisting of children from
their previous marriages and their own recent joint production, a set
of adorable twins.
The only
thorn in all this professional success is that their busy shooting schedule
prevents them from enjoying long and frequent visits to the family's dream-like
English castle. The by-product of their busy schedule is that now you,
or I, or someone special we know who longs for a stay at a dreamlike English
castle, may rent this gracious abode in the valley for a stay of a week,
a month, or longer. When one does rent Ms.Seymour's estate, one rents
her real home. While residing, one dines with Ms. Seymour's own silver
service and china, and enjoys a restful slumber in her private master
suite. Needs are not only attended to by the staff of maid, cook, groundskeeper,
and the lovely house manager Beverly Lee, – but also by the invisible
hand of Ms. Seymour herself, a truly gracious host. One can easily see
how a family can pass wonderful afternoons and evenings in this lovely
English home. "My time here is my playtime, so I try to maintain
a very casual atmosphere. It is open house, a great big family house,
and family and friends are always coming and going."
St. Catherine's
Court is steeped in a history of British culture and design and counts
members of the family of Henry VIII among its original owners. This 14th
Century manor house lies on approximately 14 acres, and the drive up the
dramatic gravel drive immediately sweeps one back in time. Traveling the
gravel path, flanked on both sides by gracious lawns and extraordinary
rose beds, the pride of their present owner, one passes the Medieval Benedictine
tythe barn and stables, the North and South Lodges, the tennis court.
Directly opposite the front door set in the north front of St. Catherine's,
which is the oldest part of the main structure dating from the 1490s,
is a church known to date from 1258, at which any modern day bride may
be married.
Upon entering
the main hall, it is hard to believe that this luminous and carefully
designed manor of Oriental rugs and gleaming wood was once completely
empty save for a teaspoon, when the actress purchased it ten years ago.
It is easy to see why Ms. Seymour treasures her time here. We are greeted
by 16th Century oak paneling, high, ornately moulded ceilings, stained
glass windows, and huge fireplaces with carved mantels; fireplaces so
large that one can practically walk into them. There is a sense that time
has stopped. "I think there is an electric plug somewhere,"
Seymour laughs, "But I've never used it." Most of the rooms
are still lit primarily by candlelight, at her insistence. We pass through
a pair of double doors into the Elizabethan dining room.
The original
refectory table coupled with Elizabethan chairs seats 12 -14 quite comfortably.
Its beamed ceilings and stone fireplace create a splendid dining atmosphere.
From this room one passes into the White Hall which offers seating around
another fireplace and affords access to the ballroom, library, and the
upper floor via the spiraling oak stairway. The ballroom is a favourite
of all who visit the house. Indeed, many do, as "every Christmas
we have all the village up for carols in the church and serve mulled wine
and mince pies in the house afterwards," Ms. Seymour says of the
convivial scene, adding, "even with as many as 90 people here, it
doesn't seem crowded."
The ballroom,
with its ornately carved ceiling, grand piano and Oriel window, has recently
been used as the location for a Cartier launching, as well as the recording
room for new albums by Radiohead and the Cure due to its extraordinary
acoustic qualities. Back through the White Hall, we're shown the library
with its Jacobean style ceiling and frieze. Its amenities include a fireplace,
sumptuous seating, and modern electronic and stereo equipment. We ascended
the spiral stairs to the first floor bedrooms. Ms. Seymour's own bedroom
suite is first, decorated in fabrics reminiscent of the Impressionist
masters, her favourite artistic period. (The home's nine bedrooms, six
bathrooms, and two kitchens are well appointed to serve the every need
of up to sixteen persons. )
"I've
been restoring the place ever since I bought it. I think one should preserve
houses like this for the next generation. My belief is, you don't own
things in this life, you borrow things. I am just part of the history
here."
Outside,
the homes garden's were designed by Gertrude Jekyll, who skillfully integrated
the topography by connecting a sucession of terraces with several flights
of steps. Each terrace is bordered by Cotswold stone walls and 500 year
old Yew hedges.
Ms. Seymour's
goal, for all of her guests, is that they find the same quiescent existence
that she does here. Why does she so generously offer St. Catherine's Court
for rental? "Our children have grown up here, my father is buried
here, we love this house.
Given the
Dr. Quinn shooting schedule and the infrequency of our visits, we thought
that sharing it made more sense than selling it." And in her inimitable
style of blending poetry and practicality that is evident throughout the
entire estate of St. Catherine's Court, she adds, " It's a beautiful
home, and beautiful homes deserve to be lived in. It's good for the house."
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