A STONE carving demonstration was among the highlights when students from a prestigious summer school dropped by Woodchester Mansion.

It was the first time the mansion at Woodchester in Stroud had hosted visitors from the educational and charitable Attingham Trust which promotes the study of historic houses.

The practical demonstration was given by Jonny Anderson, the mansion’s own training manager.

“This was their first visit to the mansion as part of their summer school experience,” said Hannah McCanlis, manager of the visitor attraction near Nympsfield.

The students also toured the Grade One listed Woodchester Mansion, which is an unfinished Victorian Gothic building now open six days a week to the public.

Because it was mysteriously abandoned midway through its construction in 1873 the mansion gives a unique view of the stonemason’s craft.

The Attingham Trust summer school offers specialised study courses, primarily for people professionally engaged in the field on country houses, their collections and settings.

It is named after the great neoclassical property Attingham House in Shropshire.

Its 63rd school this summer visited country houses in four counties including Gloucestershire where the students also saw Owlpen and Rodmarton manors.

Independent charity The Woodchester Mansion Trust owns and runs the building.

The surrounding parkland is owned and cared for by the National Trust.