{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox historic site | name =Leigh House | native_name = | native_language = | image =Geograph 3061309 Entrance to Leigh House.jpg | caption =Entrance to Leigh House | locmapin =Somerset | coordinates = {{coord|50|51|06|N|2|54|59|W|display=inline,title}} | location =Winsham, Somerset, England | area = | built =1617 | architect = | architecture = | governing_body = | owner = | designation1 =Grade II* listed building | designation1_offname =Leigh House | designation1_date =4 February 1958 | designation1_number =1056141<ref name=IoE/> | designation2 = | designation2_offname = | designation2_date = | designation2_number = }} '''Leigh House''' is a 16th- or 17th-century house in Winsham, Somerset, England. It is a Grade II* listed building.<ref name=IoE>{{cite web|title=Leigh House|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1056141|work=historicengland.org.uk|publisher=English Heritage|accessdate=17 February 2013}}</ref><ref name="nhle">{{cite web|title=Leigh House|url=https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1056141|website=National Heritage List for England|publisher=Historic England|accessdate=25 September 2016}}</ref>
The site was previously part of the Forde Abbey estate until the dissolution of the monasteries,<ref name=winshamweb>{{cite web|title=Leigh House|url=http://www.winshamwebmuseum.co.uk/architecture&estates/leighhouse/leighroyalcomreporthouse012012a.htm|publisher=Winsham Web Museum|accessdate=17 February 2013}}</ref> and was then bought by the Henley family, who built the house at some point between 1590 and 1617.<ref name=IoE/><ref>{{cite web|title=Leigh House|url=http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/57314|work=Somerset Historic Environment Record|publisher=Somerset County Council|accessdate=17 February 2013}}</ref> Henry Henley (1612–1696) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1653 and 1681. He supported the Parliamentary cause in the English Civil War.<ref>{{cite web|title=HENLEY, Henry (c.1612-96), of Leigh, Winsham, Som. and Colway, Lyme Regis, Dorset.|url=http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1660-1690/member/henley-henry-1612-96|website=History of Parliament|publisher=The History of Parliament Trust|accessdate=25 September 2016}}</ref> In 1759, the house was let to Robert Hanning.<ref name=winshamweb/>
It is made of local lias stone with Hamstone dressings.<ref name=IoE/> It is E-shaped, with the five-bay east elevation having two storeys with attics above them. The north and south sides are of six bays.<ref name="nhle"/> The main room on the ground floor is the Great Hall which, along with other rooms, still contains original large fireplaces.<ref name=winshamweb/>
The house was modified in 1893,<ref name=IoE/> and then sold by the descendants of the Henley family in 1919. Subsequent owners included the local MP George Davies.<ref name=winshamweb/> After his death, many of the furnishings of the house were sold at auction.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sale particulars of furnishings of Leigh House, [Winsham] (Sir George Davies, CVO).|url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/e9f4b0b9-d3fb-437f-8e6f-3bc9d4261588|publisher=National Archives|accessdate=25 September 2016}}</ref> The house has since been divided into four residences.<ref name="nhle"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Grade II* listed buildings in South Somerset Category:Houses completed in 1617 Category:Grade II* listed houses in Somerset Category:1617 establishments in England