The Great hall is one of the finest examples of the fifteenth century domestic architecture in the Kingdom.

Much of the heraldic glass in the windows dates from this time, or reproduces the original The linenfold panelling in the Hall is of a delicate design and the screen has unusually longpanels The screen would have separated the medieval hall from the service wing.  

Above the screen is the Minstrels gallery on which stands a chamber organ of c 1800 in a gothic case. The organ is still played for wedding services in the house.

Hanging above the great fire place is a Flemish Tapestry woven with Sampson slaying the Philistines with the jaw bone of an ass.

Bishop Mews, a portrait by Henry Stone, It depicts the bishop with a black patch on his cheek, which covers a wound gained at the battle of Sedgemoor.

Through the door in the oriel is the King's Ante Room. This room is oak panelled with a timbered ceiling. The room houses some fine Victorian Gothic works of art. Sir Robert Cooke had a keen interest in this period and accumulated this collection when he was a Member of Parliament form 1956 to 1979. 

The focal point of the room is a Coade-stone torchere, part of a set of 10 originally in the the Conservatory of Carlton House, the home of George, Prince of Wales.

Through from the Kings Ante room is the Great Chamber or Drawing Room.

Robert Martyn built the west wing in the early sixteenth century. the profusion of windows holds more heraldic glass commemorating the owners of Athelhampton and their alliances.

 The plaster ceiling is in the Reindeer Inn pattern from Banbury, Oxfordshire and is signed and dated G. Guitntini This was one of Cart de Lafontaine's additions to this room. The finely figured oak panelling on the walls is of the seventeenth century. Concealed in the west wall is a Secret panel that when opens reveal an entrance to a tiny staircase leading up to the library and down to a cellar.

Across the Ante Room through a low door is the Wine Cellar. The entrance door has been widened to admit large casks. The iron screen and wine bins are a later addition, but authentic in design

Sir William Martyn had the monopoly of collecting wine duty in the south. Today the wine cellar is home to Athelhampton's wine and champagne stock.

Following the West wing staircase is the Yellow Closet with flock Yellow walls. Further us as the steps change from stone to oak is the Blue Closet which is used as an extension to the Library

The library is on the first floor of the West Wing. It had been used as three separate bedrooms, but was opened up and panelled by Alfred Carte de Lafontaine in 1893. Sir Robert Cooke added the bookcase which holds some 3000 books covering architecture, furniture, history and literature.

In the centre of the room is a Riley Imperial full size snooker table with Victorian scorers. The room has a  selection of traditional games. A regency, mahogany sideboard of unusual concave form with a selection of drawers and cupboards

The King's room is entered through an archway decorated with Gothic lily wall paper. the room is on the site of the solar of the c15 house and has had many uses including a gunroom during WW2

It is traditionally know as the King's Room as it is the traditional place of the Manorial Court, held in the name of the King. The Ante room is similarly named.

The focus of the room is a Charles I, oak, Tester Bedstead

The staircase leading back to the Hall was installed by the Harmsworth family replacing a former dilapidated structure.

Beneath the Gallery is the screens passage having at each end a magnificent c15 oak door.

On the south side, the two original openings, one now blocked would have led to the buttery. This room is now panelled in green Florentine silk. The originals were destroyed in the fire of 92. Thirty seven Corinthian oak pilasters divide the panelling.

A rare feature of the Dining Room is the fine carving on the seventeenth century beams The dining table is surrounded by a set of eight George III mahogany dining chairs of Chippendale design. A rare kula carpet covers the floor Circa 11850

Extending from the screens passage is the East Wing on the ground floor is a nineteenth century service passage. Through the grating one can see inside a secret room, the sliver safe. 

A display cabinet has some of the Cooke family archives on display. In early years Athelhampton only had spiral staircases. The present structure replaces one built in 1895, but uses the old materials. The red wallpaper is a version of the pineapple design by William Morris.

On the landing is a striking 'William & Mary' japaned cabinet on a stand, with a par of silvered wood armchairs.

The dressing room stands between the Yellow & State bedrooms. The walls re covered by red and gold wallpaper, the Scarisbruck design by AWN Pugin.

The State Bedroom has its original c15 Ham Stone fireplace that bears the monkey crest of Sir William Martyn. The top course of oak panels has distinctive sea creatures.

The oak four poster is early c17.

The small arched door leads to a chapel in the south-east tower, with an early stained glass window depicting the Virgin Mary and a collection of icons.

The yellow bedrooms fireplace lined with Delft tiles marks the limit of the earliest part of the house. The panelling is fixed to an earlier Tudor brick and timber structure. 

A photograph of Alfred Cart de Lafontaine commemorates his time at Athelhampton from 1891 to 1918. During this time he restored much of the house and started the formal gardens.

For the full text and detail of the furnishings throughout the house please see our Guide Book