Building record 249/5/1 - The Old Manor House (Nos.1,2 & 3 Manor House) & Stone Walls

House. C17, enlarged early C18. Now 3 dwellings. South front, coursed limestone and ironstone rubble, west, north and east sides, coursed limestone rubble banded with ironstone. Built by the Danvers family who held the manor from 1437 until 1776

{1} House. C17, enlarged early C18. Now 3 dwellings. South front, coursed limestone and ironstone rubble, west, north and east sides, coursed limestone rubble banded with ironstone. Roof covered by snow at time of survey, brick and stone stacks. L-plan with small courtyard, partly filled in by C20 additions. 2 storeys, attic and cellar. South front, 3 bays, has entrance to left of centre with wood lintel and plank door. C19 three-light casement window with wood lintel to left. 4-light stone mullioned window with square hood to right. Similar window without hood in right bay on first floor. C19 three-light casement window with wood lintel in left bay, and similar 2-light window above entrance. Coped gable end. Right side has C20 doorways to Nos. 2 and 3. Two and three-light stone mullioned windows on the ground floor. Four similar 2-light windows plus a one-light stone framed window on the first floor. Wing extending to left of main front, 2 storeys, one bay, has C20 casement windows with stone lintels on both floors and coped gable end with kneelers. 2-light windows of c.1700 with wood mullions and transoms on left side. Wall adjoining left side of house, and extending along north side of High Street. C17/C18. Coursed limestone and ironstone rubble, and coursed squared stone with stone coping. Interior. Remodelled C19 and C20. A small room on the ground floor has bolection panelling of c.1700. In the hall are stop-chamfered cross beams and a fireplace with stop chamfered stone jambs and C20 timber bressumer. Formerly the residence of the D'Anvers family, Lords of the manor from the C15. The house was described by Baker in the early C19 as "in a very dilapidated state and occupied by poor families". (George Baker, "History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire", 1822-80, Vol.I, p.607).

{3} The Danvers family held the manor from 1437 until 1776; the last of the Danvers family died in 1794.

{4} RCHME describes the earliest part of the building is the south or hall range which dates from the early C17th. This replaced an earlier, probably timber-framed structure. The north and south wings appear to have been added in two phases, the southern slightly older than the northern. The dates and phasing are queried by the surveyor/author.
Built by the Danvers family who held the manor from 1437 until 1776, the Manor House now comprises three of the four ranges of buildings around a central courtyard. The east range has been subdivided into two cottages. The earliest surviving part of the house is the south range, which dates from c.1600. It was extended in the early 17th century by the addition of two wings to the west of the south range, and the final phase occurred in the late 19th century when the still open northern side of the courtyard was constructed. The building fell into decay after the last of the Danvers family died in 1794, and the interior was stripped of its oak fittings, fireplaces etc before 1830.
The building was restored in the 1920s-40s and the present building works have revealed an extensive array of alterations in modern building materials, most particularly concrete. This report also questions the previous interpretations of the buildings history, with the suggestion that the present south range did not in fact house the hall.

{6} Undated photo.

{7} [Former list description] The Old Manor. Grade 2. Seventeenth century altered, possibly incorporating part of older house. It is said that Charles I stayed here on his way to Banbury during the Civil War and escaped by a vaulted stone tunnel which goes under the railway.

{8} Built of local stone, the building has been externally modernised and is not outstanding.

{10} Drawings, measurements and notes, dated 1892, but unsure as to whether these refer to the current building;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 10/45 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F03 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.607 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77327.

<4> Semmelmann K., 2012, Historic Building Recording and Watching Brief: The Manor House, The Green, Culworth, Northamptonshire, 2012, p.7+59-61 (part checked) (Report). SNN109418.

<5> Horne B. (Editor), 2013, South Midlands Archaeology (43), p. 33 (Journal). SNN111431.

<6> Photographs of buildings in Culworth (Photographs). SNN111617.

<7> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, DOE(HHR) Brackley Northants Sept 1960 27-8 (Report). SNN112993.

<8> Tittensor, A J, 1976, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 AJT 12-OCT-76 (Notes). SNN113157.

<9> Historic England, Undated, THE OLD MANOR HOUSE, CULWORTH, BF077147 (Archive). SNN115740.

<10> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/82/6-9 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Dec 20 2023 2:18PM