St Luke’s Court

Marlborough | Wiltshire

The workhouse on top of the Marlborough Downs

At its centre, St Luke’s has an impressive Grade II building with an interesting history. Built in a cruciform pattern in Bath stone in 1837 as a workhouse for 180 inmates, it became a children’s hospital and then a school, before its final transformation into luxury accommodation. There are other cottages of complementary architecture, together forming four individual garden squares, each with a different theme, including one a herb garden. St Luke’s overlooks the Marlborough Downs and is just a short walk from the centre of the town.

The vibrant market town of Marlborough is a place of enormous provincial charm, known for its broad high street of timber-framed buildings and Georgian architecture, which testify to the prosperity it has enjoyed over the centuries. The town has an excellent array of shops, with high-street brands, designer boutiques and antique shops in abundance, and many excellent pubs and restaurants, including Rick Stein. There is also a twice-weekly market and a monthly farmers’ market. Close by is the ancient Savernake Forest, one of the largest and oldest forests in England, which offers wonderful walks and glorious scenery. When you want to enjoy a day out in a larger town, you’ll find Swindon, Chippenham, Newbury and Bath all less than one hour away.