Listed Building: Lyveden New Bield (1371907)

Large summer house, now roofless ruined shell. Probably c.1604-5, by Robert Stickells for Sir Thomas Tresham. Ashlar with white limestone dressings. Regular cruciform plan. Originally 2 storeys with undercroft. 2-storey polygonal stone mullion bay windows, with transoms, to ends of each projecting wing. Return walls of each wing have 4-light stone mullion windows with king mullions. Plinth has 3 square-head windows with shields between, to each face of return walls with similar arrangement to plinth of polygonal bays. Diamond panels flanking first floor windows and below ground floor windows. Polygonal end bay of north wing was main entrance porch. Central arch-head opening set in square surround with pyramid keystone and moulded cornice. Underside of arch has strapwork decoration. Section of coursed rubble wall below archway was originally flight of steps. Present entrance into undercroft is a square-head doorway in polygonal bay of south wing. Metope frieze with moulded cornice between ground and first floor and remains of similar Doric entablature to north-east and west wings. The frieze is decorated with Catholic symbols, Instruments of the Passion and Judas's money bag. The upper frieze has the following inscription "Jesus mundi Salus - Gaude Mater Virgo Maria - Verbum autem Crucis pereuntibus quidem Stultita est. - Jesus, Beatus Ventse qui te poravita- Maria Virgo Sponsa innupta - T. eam. Alt. - Benedixit te Deus in alternum Maria - Mihi antem absit gloriari nisi in Cruce Domini Nostri XP". Interior: there are no floor or roof structures. North wing was originally entrance hall at ground floor. Arch-head opening into porch with similar openings in opposite cross wall. Niche is in north-west corner. Remains of fireplace to first floor room. East wing was originally the buttery in the undercroft, parlour at ground floor and probably the chapel or bedroom at first floor. Arch-head opening to bay window has 2 coats of arms to underside of keyblock. Remains of flue in side wall. West win was originally the kitchen in the undercroft, hall at ground floor with Great Chamber at first floor. Kitchen has west wall across bay window with large arch-head fireplace. Similar fireplace with 4-centred arch head to Hall and square-head fireplace, flanked by niches, to Great Chamber. Square-head doorways give access to bay window. Undercroft level of bay window has remains of ovens and copper. North wing was staircase hall. Triple arcade in cross wall, at ground floor level has semi-circul r arches with plain pilasters between. Moulded cornice and plain square panels between spandrels of arches. Similar arches at first floor level have large rectangular panel between flanked by pilasters with clover leaf decoration. Two 4-centre arch head openings, with window between in cross wall at undercroft level. Joist holes, scaffolding holes and slots for internal rainwater pipes are all visible. The staircase is said to have been removed in C17 by Colonel Butler to Cobthorne, Oundle. This building, which symbolises Christ's passion was incomplete at the death of Sir Thomas Tresham who was also responsible for the Triangular Lodge, Rushton, which symbolises the Trinity. Scheduled as an ancient monument. Property of National Trust. (Gardens at Lyveden New Bield are listed in HBMCE Register of Parks and Gardens at Grade II*; Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.300).

Record last edited

Sep 13 2023 3:49PM