Crafts were taught in the building and the vast majority of the furniture was commissioned for the house and built locally.

[4] Barnsley had settled in the Cotswolds in 1893 with his brother, leaving their successful Birmingham architecture firm behind, to focus on traditional crafting methods without machines.

The final part of the build was completed between 1926 and 1929[5] under the supervision of his brother, Sidney and his son-in-law, Norman Jewson.

[1] The built took a total of 23 years, largely due to the traditional methods being used, but also as no contractor was hired to manage the build.

[3] During World War II, Rodmarton Manor was used as an evacuation point for Sisters of Marie-Auxiliatrice school in Finchley,[7] with over 150 children living there.

It was built as three wings, viewed in plan as three sides of an octagon, around a large circular courtyard, covered in grass which is designed to be reminiscent of a village green.

The majority of the building is two storeys high and made of coursed cut stone, the plinth is offset and the quoins are flush.

[2][10] The north facade has a gabled porch bay which includes an arched doorway with a stone monogram above.

The furniture throughout was all commissioned specifically for the house and built by local workshops,[1] including some by Alfred Hoare Powell.

[11] The building was designated Grade I listed status on 4 June 1952[10] and was described by Charles Ashbee as the single best example of the Arts and Crafts movement.

[1] Influenced strongly by Margaret Bidulph, who had studied at Studley Horticultural College, where she had met her future head gardener William Scrubey.