Welcome to the guided tour of the Mansion.

This Grade I listed Mansion House is recognised as being one of the most important examples of Elizabethan Architecture in Berkshire. It is a well proportioned red brick building with stone dressings moulded string courses and an old tile roof that was completed in 1581 by the wealthy Newbury Clothing merchant Thomas Dolman. This was not the first house on the site the former Manor House can be dated back to the Doomsday Book.

In October 1644 during the second Battle of Newbury Thomas Dolman agreed to Shaw House being used as a stronghold for the King in the defence of Donnington Castle. On October 27, 1644 whilst Cromwell was engaging the Royalists at Speen Manchester led his force of 3000 Parliamentarian foot and 1200 horses in an attack to capture Shaw House. The Royalists led by Page had fortified the House and grounds and after hand to hand fighting in the grounds and gardens, managed to repulse the Parliamentarians and finally routed them with a Cavalry charge.

The Dolman family who lived at Shaw from 1553 to 1701 had many visits from Royalty. In August 1663 Charles II stayed at Shaw House and it is said that during his stay a Parliamentarian fired a musket at King Charles who was dressing in the bay window of the Oak Room. The bullet narrowly missed him and formed a hole in the wainscot. In October 1, 1703 Queen Anne also received the hospitality of the Dolman family.

Shaw House has had over the centuries many keepers however it has retained its integrity and is today substantially the same building that was first built by Thomas Dolman.

Shaw House is thought to be the largest Elizabethan Mansion in Berkshire and is an H shaped building. It has four symmetrical facades with skilful arrangement of windows divided by stone transoms and mullions with leaded lights.

The architecture has been attributed to John Thorpe however the House has marked similarities to Corsham Hall and Longleat that are themselves thought to have been designed by Humphrey Lovell the Queens Master mason. It is believed to have originally been built as a two storey building with a level balustrade or pierced parapet running around the whole building and the third storey with its gabled roof being added about fifty years later.