Building record 49/1/1 - Great Purston Manor House

The manor house was built in the 16th century and the symmetrical south front was added circa 1680. The house was extended in the 20th century and is entered through a porch dated 1931, this is probably the date that the north side of the house was re-fenestrated. The house is built of limestone ashlar with a stone slate roof and is L-shaped in plan. The south front is of two storeys and has a three-bay centre with two- projecting bays to either side.

{1} Manor House. C16 and late C17 with C20 extensions. Limestone ashlar with stone slate roof. L-plan. Symmetrical south front of c.1680 is of 2 storeys with a 3-bay centre and 2-bay projections to left and right. Central doorway with open segmental pediment and C20 glazed door. All windows are of 2 lights with stone mullions and transoms. Attic dormers have wooden casements and hipped roofs. East part incorporates a late C16 wing which projects north and has stone mullioned windows of 3- and 4-lights with square hoods. It is entered through a porch dated 1931, probably the time when the north side of the house was re-fenestrated. Interior: Entrance hall is the former kitchen and has an open fireplace with a segmental stone arch and oven with an iron door leading from a doorway south of this hall is a late C16 well staircase with turned balusters and newel posts with elongated acorn finials. In the south section of the house is a large oblong hall with a stone fireplace opposite the entrance. This is re-used late C16 work and has a 4-centred arch framed by fluted Corinthian columns and a frieze of stylised leaves. Above it are the arms of the Cresswell family (Lords of the Manor in the C17), carved in stone and not in situ. At the east end of this hall are late C17 5-panel double doors leading to a room with a fireplace of the same date with a wood bolection surround and bolection panelled overmantel. To the west of the hall is a room with re-used late C16 panelling and a stone fireplace of the same date with a 4-centred arch. A bedroom on the first floor has a late C17 fireplace with bolection panelled overmantel framing a painting on canvas of a landscape with the goddess Diana. To the west is a C20 extension of limestone rubble with a stone slate roof of two storeys with wooden casement windows. The garden south of the house forms a small forecourt enclosed by low stone walls with four gateways, each with plain stone piers and ball finials. (Great Purston Manor, (Anon); Northamptonshire Notes and Queries, January 1926, New Series No.1, Vol.6, p.1).

{3} [Former list description] The Manor House at Great Purston has late C17th additions to a C16th house. Grade II.

{4} The house has modern additions and renovations but still retains some of the earlier work and is outstanding. See photographs.

{5} No change since report of 15 2 70.

{6} [Former list description] Great Purstan Manor House. C16th and late C17th building.

{8} Earl of Thanet and 2nd edition.

{9} 16th and 17th century Great Purston manor 8.5 hectares. Wilderness, terraced walks, mound (?windmill), ?knott garden, bowling green. Ornamental ponds.

{12} The south front, c1700, was probably built for Robert Cresswell. The initials RC on a stone in the garden wall and the name Cresswell House presumably refer to him.

{13} Held by Robert de Statford at Domesday. (The second small manor listed then is likely to be that of Little Purston.)

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 5/156 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F01 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, MHLG list, Brackley RD, 1955 (Report). SNN112993.

<4> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, F1 JB 15-FEB-70 (Notes). SNN110341.

<5> Allanson, C D, 1976, Field Investigator's Comments, F2 CDA 08-OCT-76 (Notes). SNN112955.

<6> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, DoE List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest 1985 South Northants 62 (Report). SNN112993.

<7> Historic England, Undated, PURSTON MANOR, GREAT PURSTON, NEWBOTTLE, BF103296 (Archive). SNN114226.

<8> Eyre T. (Revised by Jefferys T.), 1779, Map of the County of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Map). SNN1852.

<9> BURT J., NOTE, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN45426.

<10> 1768, Map of Purston, (unchecked) (Map). SNN10454.

<11> 1844, Newbottle Tithe Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN46053.

<12> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 535 (Book). SNN111989.

<13> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.94 site 11 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<14> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 535 (Book). SNN111989.

Record last edited

Mar 12 2024 4:03PM