Summergil House Home

Summergil House is surrounded by 18 acres of fields and woodland in Presteigne, right on the line where Herefordshire meets Powys and where England meets Wales. Our three cottages have each been designed to a very high specification with large modern kitchens and lounges, gardens with lots of play equipment, and bedrooms for up to 18 children across the three homes.

The grounds include a park with play equipment, a lake and streams as well as acres of woodlands for our intrepid explorers to have adventures. There are outdoor spaces for enjoying bushcraft sessions or sitting around the campfire.

Inside, every child is encouraged to personalise their own space and make their room their own – all part of the personal and bespoke living experience we aim to create.

At Summergil House our mission is to provide friendly and nurturing learning and living environments that inspire confidence and self-esteem, encouraging children to develop into independent, active and valued members of society as they become young people and adults.

By blending education with modern living and a therapeutic approach to care, children develop a positive self-image, learning how to make positive choices and maintain their health and wellbeing.

Learning that extends from school into the living environment serves to reinforce independence and life skills throughout the waking day, in education, in the home and in the community. For children at Summergil House, the world is one big classroom and an infinite source of both practical and inspirational learning opportunities.

Children at Summergil House have a voice and are listened to. They are encouraged to directly shape their own learning and living experiences.

Summergil House opened its doors in March 2017 and has since developed into a close and loving community where children can make lasting memories of their childhood and make friends for life.

Formerly the site of the now ruined Womaston Castle, Summergil House has also been a family home among other things. Orbis purchased the site in 2016 and turned its cottages into bright, funky interior designed homes for up to 18 children. The living community is a close, clustered huddle of cottages on the same site as a large modern school building.

Maintaining contact with families is of paramount importance and of course we welcome visits on a pre-arranged basis. Indeed, we ask that family visits are planned so that we can ensure that children are prepared for visits and possible changes to their routines.

Our after school curriculum is teeming with ideas and options. In fact, the range of options is almost as broad as the children’s interests.

We are fortunate to have a wide range of options onsite within our extensive grounds: swimming, sports, miles of walks by the lake and along the streams, or exploring in the woods. Outdoor areas allow for nights warming by the campfire toasting marshmallows and sharing milestone childhood moments. Elsewhere Summergil has a huge polytunnel, a smallholding with chickens and rabbits and more.

We are also located a short walk from the friendly village of Presteigne and further still we are located between the larger towns of Ludlow, Llandrindod Wells and Hereford.

The home is also the perfect environment in which to practice life skills learned during the school day. Children are supported to learn tasks and personal care in the home, and can be provided with evening timetables and schedules, work schedules, signs and symbols to help them maintain their routine.

Summergil house is set in 18 acres of fields and woodland in Presteigne, right on the line where Herefordshire meets Powys and where England meets Wales. Our three large cottages have each been interior-designed to a very high specification, with large modern kitchens and lounges, gardens with lots of play equipment, and bedrooms for up to 18 children in total across the three homes.

Every child is encouraged to personalise their own space and make their room their own – all part of the personal and bespoke living experience we aim to create.