Last year, we caught up with Emma and James Lowsley-Williams to hear about life behind the scenes at Chavenage Estate, their historic family home just outside Tetbury in the Cotswolds.

Since then, quite a lot has been happening.

From filming and renovations to growing the different businesses that help keep a historic country estate running, Chavenage continues to be a brilliant example of old and new Cotswold life coming together.

And there has been plenty of Cotswold Fox involved along the way too!

A Cotswold estate that is anything but quiet

Chavenage House dates back to the 16th century and has become one of the Cotswolds’ most recognisable historic houses.

Fans of BBC's Poldark will know Chavenage as Trenwith, while more recently the estate has also become known for its appearances in Disney+'s Rivals, based on the novels by Jilly Cooper.

Filming continues to be a significant part of life at Chavenage. In fact, filming commitments in 2026 have meant that opportunities to tour Chavenage House itself are currently much more limited, with visits available by reservation and subject to availability.

Behind the cameras, though, Chavenage is still very much a working family home and estate.

Bringing Chavenage into its next chapter

When we last spoke to James and Emma, one of their biggest projects was the renovation of a wing of Chavenage House to create their own family home, an area which hadn't undergone a major renovation for more than 70 years.

It was part of a much bigger challenge: working out how you preserve a historic Cotswold estate for another generation while making it work as a modern business.

Today, Chavenage encompasses far more than the house itself. The wider estate combines farming with accommodation, weddings, events, filming and tours, while The Barn at Chavenage has created another reason for locals and visitors to spend time on the estate.

It's a balance we find particularly interesting, Chavenage might be surrounded by centuries of history, but keeping somewhere like this alive requires constantly looking forward.

Life at the Manor

James and Emma have also continued documenting the reality of running Chavenage through their Life at the Manor series.

Rather than simply showing the polished side of life in a beautiful Cotswold manor house, they share the projects, decisions, maintenance and (occasional!) chaos that come with taking responsibility for an estate of this scale.

It's perhaps why so many people have connected with their story. Chavenage isn't treated like a museum piece; it's somewhere that is lived in, worked on and constantly evolving.

From renovating the house and managing the land to welcoming film crews and developing new businesses, there isn't really such a thing as an ordinary week.

James's Cotswold Fox favourites

If you've followed Life at the Manor recently, you may also have spotted a familiar fox appearing fairly regularly.

James has become something of an unofficial Cotswold Fox ambassador, wearing our clothing for everyday life around Chavenage!

His two particular favourites are the Tetbury Quarter Zip in Navy, our Fleece Gilet and the Cirencester Quarter Zip in Burgundy. 

Our products are designed for exactly this sort of Cotswold life: smart enough to wear when you're meeting people or heading into town, but comfortable and practical enough for days spent outside, around the estate or tackling whatever job appears next.

The Tetbury Quarter Zip in Navy is the classic of the two, understated, easy to layer and something that can be worn year after year.

The Cirencester Quarter Zip in Cornflower Blue brings a little more colour while still having that relaxed country feel that works so well at Chavenage.

Seeing Cotswold Fox being genuinely worn as part of everyday life on a working Cotswold estate is particularly special for us!

Visiting Chavenage Estate

For anyone planning a trip to Tetbury or the Cotswolds, Chavenage is well worth a visit.

The estate is just outside Tetbury in Gloucestershire and Chavenage House continues to welcome visitors for pre-arranged tours, although availability is currently limited due to filming commitments.

You can also visit The Barn Cafe at Chavenage, which welcomes visitors, including dogs and muddy boots, and has become a lovely part of the wider Chavenage Estate.

And if you can't make it to Gloucestershire, following Life at the Manor is probably the next best thing!