SNOWSHILL Manor is a typical, traditional Cotswold house, built of golden yellow local stone and set on a hillside above the Vale of Evesham.

Steeped in rich history, the manor holds one of the most remarkable collections that the National Trust maintains and is surrounded by an intriguing and intimate garden.

With the doors due to close for the winter, the National Trust is reflecting on a record-breaking year. In its first year since re-opening to visitors, Snowshill Manor has seen 101,220 visitors walk through the doors of Charles Wade's former home.

The history of Snowshill Manor can be traced back to 821 when the property was owned by Winchcombe Abbey until the dissolution of the monastries in 1539. It later found itself in the hands of Katherine Parr after the house was given to her as a gift from husband, Henry VIII.

Over the years the house has seen many alterations as it has passed through the hands of various tenants and owners.

By 1919, the manor was a semi-derelict farm and was bought by architect Charles Paget Wade who decided to restore the property to display his historic and unique collection of craftsmanship. He devoted much of his time acquiring the items often bought from antique shops and dealerships across the UK.

Wade amassed his collection from 1900 until 1951, when he gave it with the manor to the

National Trust. His desire was that people could learn to appreciate and love good craftsmanship through the objects he had collected. Wade also looked to the Middle and Far East for hand- crafted objects using bright and imaginative colours.

But his creative streak did not end there. He also saw the potential in the derelict land surrounding the property. In collaboration with Arts and Crafts architect, M H Baillieth, Wade created terraces and ponds between 1920 and 1923 on the site of the old farmyard.

Years later, visitors are still amazed by the beauty and history of Snowshill Manor.

The house was closed in 2004 for a major refurbishment, which became known as 'Wade In'. It

involved rewiring, installing a new fire and a security and environmental monitoring system. The aim was to produce an effect closer to that which Charles Wade intended for presenting his eclectic collection of 22,000 objects.

Property manager Janet Clark said: "I think our visitors have been fascinated by the fact that, in order to do all this work we had to undertake one of the biggest removal jobs anyone could ever imagine. They've come to see whether we've managed to put all 22,000 items back in situ, and we've not disappointed them."

She added that she hoped the enhanced lighting and security system would enable visitors to enjoy the collection for many more years.