Things to do

Country home of playwright Bernard Shaw for 44 years, owned by The National Trust

Pretty, twisting lanes lead to Shaw's Corner, the Edwardian villa that was home to George Bernard Shaw, the famous Irish playwright, for over 40 years.

The garden at Shaw's Corner extends to three and a half acres surrounding the Edwardian villa and is in a conservation area. The gardens have been kept as Shaw liked them, and photos inside the house show Shaw in the garden, looking much as it does today.

The north approach to the house, which used to be the carriage drive, is formal and simple. Enjoy the scent of the cherry blossom in flower as the scent drifts along the drive.

The house at Shaw's Corner was originally built as the New Rectory for Ayot St Lawrence by the Church of England in 1902. The house was designed very much in the Arts and Crafts style with stained glass windows and hearts cut into the banisters.

The house was not used as a rectory for long. It was offered for rent by the Church of England in 1906. The Shaws had just left a house in nearby Welwyn and were in 'the agonies of house hunting' as Shaw wrote to H.G.Wells, when they found the house that would become their most permanent home.

In 1920 Bernard and Charlotte decided to buy it outright. Around the same time the name of the house officially changed from The New Rectory to Shaw's Corner, which the locals had begun calling the house shortly after they moved in.

To the front the of the house, a rolling lawn unfolds, bright green and pristinely lined. An ideal spot to take a moment's rest and enjoy the gardens. In summer the herbaceous borders are a riot of colour, filled with bright alliums, yellow achillea, foxgloves and delphiniums.

The gardens are also home to a wildflower meadow, in which cowslips can be found in spring, followed by swathes of native wildflowers in summer. The wildflower meadow is home to chalkland flowers and is designated a Local Wildlife Site by the Wildlife Trust.

Bernard Shaw himself kept bees and our team today keeps this tradition alive, with beehives that can be found in the corner of the garden.

The orchard to the west is planted with apple, cherry and pear trees, bringing sweet-smelling blossom in spring. The trees are underplanted with bright Narcissi, blooming in March and April. Enjoy the peace and tranquillity of this space, a lovely spot to sit and watch the birds visiting the feeders.

The house is open for pre-booked guided tours from the end of March to the end of September. Please visit our website to book a ticket in advance.