Listed Building: Jacobean House (21/30)

School, now house. Dated 1622, enlarged C19, converted 1972. Coursed limestone rubble with ashlar dressings, thatched roof with coped gables on scrolly kneelers with baluster finials, 3 moulded ashlar stacks (central one modern or reset, replacing louvre ones to gable ends, truncated). One storey, 4-windows wide. Central C19 boarded door (though hinges may be original) flanked by fluted pilasters carrying entablature, with frieze inscribed "AND THIS HOUSE. WAS BUILT. 1622/THE FRE. SCHOOLE. WAS. FOUNDED/BY. THOMAS. BURBANKE. AND/MARGARET. HIS. WIFE. 1587/AND MEMORIA. IVISTI. BENEDICTA. P RO 10". Above is a shaped ashlar gable with finials, which contains geometrical ornament, a sundial and a cartouche enclosing a shield with an eagle (?). Windows are of 3 lights with ovolo-moulded stone mullions and leaded casements on gudgeons, cornices over and lintels inscribed "EX: DONO: JOHANNIS: MICHEL: X ", "16 DONUM: IOHANNIS: BARRIFFE: 22", "16+: GEORGIUS: PLOWRIGHT: ME: DEDIT: +22", "W XARPE CITIUS QUAM IMITABERIS N". Left return has taller 3-light window with central light stepped, but with the upper part now a blind panel inscribed to commemorate the 1972 work. Geometrical ornament above. Wing to rear C19, partly rendered (to disguise scars caused by demolition of later C19 block) and with roof of plain and shaped tiles, originally one storey but now divided into 2, has ovolo-moulded mullioned windows (and C20 dormers). Interior: originally one large school-room, now subdivided, 3 roof trusses, arch-braced to collar and with drop finial, cross-bracing above. The lower edges of the arch braces are ovolo-moulded, whilst the upper edges and the cross-braces are chamfered. 2 tiers of purlins and C20 rafters. Roof strapped and probably partly renewed in C19. It is believed that the school was actually founded in 1581 (or possibly even earlier, as Thomas Burbank was described as "founder of the free school in Burton Latimer" at his death in 1578) - the date 1587 inscribed here presumably being a mason's error. (Northampton and County Independent, June 1981, p.39).

Record last edited

Jun 10 2021 2:35PM