Building record 17/4/1 - The Manor House

Manor House (16thc)

{1} Manor House. C16, remodelled C17, ( date 1668 on rainwater head) and c.1927. Coursed squared ironstone, with coursed ironstone and limestone rubble, tile roof, stone stacks. L-plan. Main house of double-depth plan has C16 section to north, C17 additions to south with former service wing projecting to north east. South front, 2 storeys and attic, 6 bays. 2-storey porch in third bay from right has doorway framed by Tuscan pilasters and straight moulded entablature. C17/C18 eight-panel double doors with rectangular overlight. Rainwater head with date 1668 to left of porch. All windows have 2 lights with plain stone frames, original wood mullions and transoms and leaded panes. Straight moulded parapet. 3 hipped dormers with wood casements. Coped gables with kneelers and finials. Lower wing set back to right, one bay, 2 storeys, has C20 two-light stone mullioned window on ground floor and C17 two-light window with wood mullion and transom on first floor. West side, 2 bays, has C19 two-storey canted bay window in each bay. North front, said to be original entrance: 2 storeys and attic, 4 irregular bays with 2 gables to right. Doorway in second bay from right, has wood lintel, moulded wood frame with stop chamfered jambs and C17 ribbed and studded plank door with date 1659 inscribed on hinge inside the house. Small 2-light window with wood lintel and original wood mullion to right. 6-light window to left with wood lintel and original moulded wood mullions and transom. Small tower in left bay, 2 storeys has C20 wood casement window on both floors and straight parapet. 4-light window with wood lintel and original wood mullions and transom in second bay from left of first floor. 3-light window with original wood mullions and transom and wood lintel above entrance. 2 small C20 mezzanine windows in right bay between first floor and attic. C20 attic windows in right bay and second bay from right. Main entrance formed on east side of house c.1927. Service wing to left of north front, 2 storeys, 4 bays, said to have had arch to stable yard in centre, now blocked and filled by C20 stone-mullioned window. 4-light stone mullioned windows on either side. 2- and 3-light windows on first floor with plain stone lintels, wood mullions and old iron casements. Interior: Rooms on south side have decorative plasterwork and joinery of c.1670-80, including the Drawing Room with wood panelled walls, and fireplace framed by plain pilasters, frieze with blank rectangular tablet and panelled overmantel. Study has panelled walls, carved wooden fireplace with frieze of bay leaves and overmantel with large oval wreath of fruit and flowers. Motif repeated in plasterwork on ceiling divided into four by cross-beams with oval wreath in each section. Beams decorated with anthemion and palmette patterns. Small Drawing Room has re-used C16-C17 panelling and carved wooden overmantel of c.1680 with broken pediment. Former gallery on first floor, originally 5 bays, now partitioned as 2 bedrooms. Main bedroom has carved wooden fireplace with overmantel framed by pilasters with pendants of fruit. Ceiling has cross beams decorated with anthemion pattern and rosettes and frieze of drapery swags and fruit. Adjoining bedroom has similar frieze and ceiling in adjoining room and carved wooden fireplace framed by volutes and swags of fruit, frieze of laurel leaves and altered overmantel with pilasters. Panelled walls with beaded mouldings. Small bedroom has re-used early C17 panelling and overmantel with C17 painting on canvas of horsemen in landscape. Early C17 dog-leg staircase has flat balusters carved on each side with medallions, wide moulded handrail and panelled newel posts with lantern-shaped finials. Secondary staircase, c.1670 has turned balusters and newels with ball finials. Manor purchased in 1619 from Griffin family by Sir Richard Saltonstall. His grandson also Richard (died 1688) probably made the C17 additions to the house. In the early C18 it passed by marriage to Francis North first Earl of Guildford. (G. Baker, Northamptonshire, 1822-30, Vol.I, p.526-7).

{4} Undated photo;

{6} The manor house has many modern alterations including a roof but is still outstanding

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 4/87 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F02 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.526-7 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77327.

<4> Photographs of buildings in Chipping Warden (Photographs). SNN112072.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1955, 1950s/60s Ordnance Survey 6 Inch Mapping Series (SP44NE) (Map). SNN61128.

<6> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, 16/Apr (Notes). SNN110341.

Record last edited

Apr 25 2025 4:02PM