Listed Building: Delapre Abbey (1039791)

The building forms a rectangle with an internal court. It is possible that some of the structure of the original abbey building remains on the north and east sides of this house but the older part appears C16 with a C17 west front and the south front C18 with early c19 and later alterations. The west front has a recessed centre of two storeys, ironstone with battlemented parapet and central projecting battlemented porch which has an arched opening with moulded springers and architrave round arch, and is flanked by fluted Tuscan columns on plinths supporting sections of entablature crowned by ball finials. The sides of the porch have blocked circular windows in moulded rectangular panels. On each side of the porch is 1 bay of 8-light mullioned and transomed windows. To left of centre is a double gabled projection of two storeys and attic. The inner gable slightly projecting has a convex and concave curved outline, the outer gable is plain. Each has a 3-light stone mullioned attic window and 2 bays below, tall C18 sashes on 1st floor, the left hand gable has similar windows on ground floor, the right hand has 4-light stone mullioned and transomed windows. The stonework suggests different periods of building. To right of central part is a large two storey stuccoed early C19 'Tudoresque' projection of poor design but with stonework of original wing remaining on half the north side in which is 1 bay of 8-light mullioned and transomed windows. The south front with cornice and parapet and C19 balustrading has 10 bays of sash windows plus the Tudoresque addition to left hand. The windows have architrave surrounds and the 2 right hand bays are separated by a pilaster with a corresponding pilaster on the right hand end. It seems likely that the house was originally symmetrical on this front and also on west front, excluding left hand gable. The north and east fronts have some mullioned and transomed windows and some later windows in irregular arrangement. Internally some old doorways with four-centred arched heads and lantern wall recesses to a corridor are in the north wing. The corridor in which are the lantern recesses is supposed to be part of the original cloister of the Abbey. The recesses are framed in moulded stone and are at each end of the inner wall facing in two directions. They may be earlier than mid C16. Considerable redecoration must have been done in Cl9. Illustrated in Old Halls and Manor Houses of Northamptonshire by J A Gotch. Delapre Abbey with its Stable block, Billiard Room, Garden Wall and Gateway, Game Larder, Coach-House and Park House form a group.

Record last edited

Dec 16 2024 2:50PM