Listed Building: GLEBE FARMHOUSE 8 CHURCH STREET (1225981)

Manor house or lay clergyhouse. C.1260-1320, probably mid C16 and C17 with C18 alterations and additions. Squared coursed limestone with C20 plain tile roof. Originally open hall with cross passage then 4 units. 2 storeys. Elevation to churchyard of 6-window range of leaded casements under wood lintels, some with crown glass. Centre 2 bays are earliest origin with 2-centred arch head door opening to left with chamfer, roll moulding and hood mould. Studded plank door. 3 single-stage buttresses be ween centre bays. Ashlar gable parapets to left of centre bays and to end of right hand range. 3 ridge and eaves levels. Brick and stone stack to left of centre and ashlar stack with moulded cornice to right gable end. Brick stack to left end. Rear elevation is similar, with a studded plank door to right of centre, under a wood lintel. Leaded casements also under wood lintels. Jamb of medieval window to left of centre range. Interior: cross passage has winder stair to left against stack. Closet to far left of passage has C16 plank and muntin screen. Hall, now drawing room, has large C16 open fireplace with bressumer, C16 moulded ceiling beams and C17 panelled door. End wall opposite cross passage has 2 large arches with subsidiary trefoil arches with a fine central corbel with fleur-de-lys. The upper part of the arcade is now in the first floor rooms. Straight flight of stairs rise between Hall and room to far left. Kitchen to far right has remains of open fireplace with bressumer. First floor room has fine C17 fireplace with 4-centred head and early C19 cast iron firebasket. Plank doors, some with strap hinges. Game larder over cellar stair. Evidence of raised cruck in first floor room. If a manor house, possibly that held by Trayle family; although local tradition maintains there was a college of secular priests at Woodford. Centre range is late C13 hall with stack inserted against screens passage in C16, also hall subdivided at this date. Range to right is probably C16 and C17 on site of service rooms and range to left is C17/C18. (Paul Woodfield: The larger medieval houses of Northamptonshire, p.188).

Record last edited

Jul 25 2023 4:34PM