When Television Comes Calling
- Otters Home Search
- Oct 16
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 17
Corsham on the Big Screen Again
Corsham has long been a favourite among location scouts: its honey-coloured stone buildings, historic streetscapes and atmospheric character made it a natural fit for Poldark, where it stood in for 18th-century Truro.
Now, as filming begins for the next series of Jilly Cooper’s Rivals, Corsham is once again transformed with retro storefronts, classic cars, (and the shoulder pads and big hair where quite a sight!), reminding audiences how photogenic and cinematic the town can be.
This renewed attention underscores what locals already know: Corsham isn’t just a pretty backdrop. It’s a place people live, work, gather, and invest in.
A Town Rooted in Heritage
Corsham Court & the Court’s Influence
At the heart of Corsham’s historic appeal is Corsham Court, a Grade I–listed Elizabethan house with later additions and remodelling by John Nash, and gardens laid out by Capability Brown and Humphry Repton.
The Methuen family has long held the estate, and the house today houses an important art collection. Its parks and grounds partly buffer the town’s edges, and peacocks, wandering from the court, often roam into town, a whimsical local detail that delights visitors but just the norm for the residents!
Corsham Court also has a cultural legacy: it was home to the Bath Academy of Art (from 1946 to 1986), and today supports postgraduate and research art studios in partnership with Bath Spa University.
Heywood Prep: A Local Independent School
An important pillar of the town’s community is Heywood Prep School, for children aged 2 to 11, located in the centre of Corsham on two acres of gardens.
Heywood places emphasis on a warm, inclusive environment, and many parents speak highly of the pastoral care and the strong sense of community.
Its presence in the town centre helps bind Corsham’s identity: families often choose to live within walking distance, which brings footfall into local shops, cafés, and services.
The Historic High Street & Independent Scene
Corsham’s High Street is highly regarded with its Georgian façades in Bath Stone and charming shopfronts lend it an old-world quality.
The high street is a mix: independent boutiques, cafés, artisan food shops, galleries, and everyday services including butchers and greengrocers and a useful Co-op.
One new development to watch is the Beckford Bottle Shop / Corsham House project: the Beckford Group (famous for their Bottle Shop in Bath) is launching a brasserie with rooms and a tasting area, integrated with a bottle shop, within the High Street.
Corsham House is slated to open in early 2026, featuring 14 bedrooms and a 94-seat restaurant. This kind of investment signals confidence in Corsham’s future and an additional high-end hospitality anchor in the town centre.
What It’s Like to Live in Corsham
Community, Convenience & Lifestyle
Corsham offers a unique blend: a small-town feel, rich history, and access to bigger cultural centres. You’ll find residents strolling the high street, walking in the Court’s grounds, dropping into cafés, and enjoying community events.
For families, the presence of Heywood Prep is a plus. For professionals, Corsham affords a quieter life while staying connected. For retirees or those seeking respite from city pace, it's a scenic, well-serviced town.
Property & House Values: What You Can Expect
Current Listings
There is a broad spread of properties in Corsham:
Modest terraces or cottages might start in the low £200,000s or £300,000s (depending on size and condition)
Mid-sized family homes (3–4 bed) tend toward £350,000 – £500,000 depending on location and garden size, with well located period properties attracting a premium.
Larger detached houses or period homes, especially near the town centre, command £500,000+, and can push into the £1 million+ bracket - for example, a 4-bed detached on Lacock Road with an asking price of £1.775 million.
Average Values & Trends
Over the past year, the average property price in Corsham was roughly £376,680 overall, with detached homes averaging £485,782, semi-detached £367,645, and terraced £311,912. Rightmove
In the SN13 9 area (a substantial residential postcode in Corsham), house prices have risen 6.6% in the past year ( 2.6% after inflation). Housemetric
These figures suggest a stable and upward-moving market - desirable, but not (yet) prohibitively expensive compared to some commuter towns.
Access, Commuting & Cultural Links
Rail & Road Connectivity
Corsham no longer has its own active railway station - its original station closed in 1965. Proposals exist to reinstate it but have done for many years and in practice, residents use Chippenham station, about 4 miles away, to access London and the wider rail network. The drive is short, and parking at Chippenham station is straightforward. The A4 and A350 also give road connections toward Bath, the M4 corridor, Bristol, and the wider southwest. The proximity of Junction 17 on the M4 (15 minutes drive) is useful for longer-distance car travel.
Cultural & Countryside Access
Being just 8 miles north‐east of Bath, Corsham offers residents easy access to one of the UK’s richest cultural cities: the Roman Baths, the Royal Crescent, world-class theatre, art galleries, university life, festivals, and more.
Beyond Bath, Corsham sits on the southwestern edge of the Cotswolds, so rolling countryside, classic villages, walking routes and rural character are right on the doorstep.
For those wanting a rural escape, day trips or weekend explorations into the Cotswolds or the wider Wiltshire landscape are well within reach.
So, Would You Like to Live Here?
Corsham blends a strong sense of heritage with evolving vitality. The renewed filming of Rivals reminds us of the town’s appeal. But beyond the cameras, Corsham is evolving, with new hospitality investment, independent local shops, and a robust housing market.
Life here offers a slower rhythm than big cities, but with cultural and transport connections close enough for practical daily life. It’s a place with charm, community, and substance.
If you’re curious about exploring homes here, understanding particular streets or neighbourhoods, or imagining your life in Corsham, contact Otters Home Search. We’d be delighted to help you discuss what life here could look like, and to start the property journey with you.
Otters Home Search
