Building record 68/2/1 - Steane Park House

16th and 17th century country house. Originally the manor house of the Bray family. Circa 1740-50 two thirds of the original house was demolished. The house was further altered during the 19th century.

{1} The late medieval and C16th house at Steane has largely disappeared but the former service end survives. The original house is known from a painting at Durham Castle {7}, a drawing of 1719 {8} and a plan made before alterations in 1890. Although it was a substantial building executed for families of importance, it has been little studied. Its architectural ambition matched its size. Despite a widely spread plan, the symmetry of the main north front was carefully maintained through successive alterations. More details of ownership and architectural development are given, along with a reproduction of the Tillemans drawing of 1719.

{2} Country House. Section of larger house demolished c.1750. C16/17, altered C19. Squared coursed limestone, coursed rubble, ironstone dressings. Tiled roof, stone stacks. 2 storeys and attic. South front 7 bays, has 2 gables to left and one to right. Doorway in right bay has stone 4 centred arch and 9 panel door. Blocked doorway with similar arch third bay from left. Irregularly spaced stone mullioned windows of 2, 3 and 4 lights with square hoods. C19 stone mullioned windows in third bay from right on ground and first floor, and in left bay ground floor. Main entrance on East side, remodelled C19, has 2 storey bay window and gabled stone porch of this date. Rear has 6 gables and stone mullioned and transomed windows, mostly renewed C19. North-West bay near porch added C19. Interior not inspected, but said to have C16 stone fireplace in dining room with 4 centred arch and C18 staircase with turned balusters, elaborated with extra carving in the C19. Originally The Manor House of the Bray family. C.1590 it passed by marriage to Thomas Crewe, Speaker of the House of Commons, who remodelled the house. It is shown in a C17 painting in Durham Castle. C.1740-50 two thirds of the house was demolished.

{5} In 1753 Steane was described by Horace Walpole as the "remains of the mansion house, but quite in ruins". Baker records that it was deserted and taken down between 1740 and 1750, except the kitchen and part of the inferior offices, which are converted into a commodious farm house.

{6} Part of a late medieval building still remains but the house was apparently rebuilt in the early 17th century by Sir Thomas Crewe. The lands to the north may have been turned into a formal garden at the same time.

{9} Undated photo;

{11} What remained of the house after the demolition was a portion of the west wing which contained the services, and was then converted into a farmhouse. It was refurbished in 1882-5 by Josiah Mander, surveyor to the Althorp Estate, probably working alongside George Devey, who was also then working for the estate and rebuilt other properties at Steane.

{12} (SP 55493898) Manor House (LB)

{13} The Manor House is outstanding. See photo.

{14} Plan of chimney arch, with measurements, noted as disused and built into wall and taken out at alterations, also plan of Steane Park in the 17th century, and plan before alterations;

<1> Heward J.; Taylor R., 1996, The Country Houses of Northamptonshire, p.309-311 (part checked) (Book). SNN41757.

<2> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 6/96 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<3> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F01 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<4> Oswald A.; Esdaile K., 1938, The Chapel at Steane Park, p.12-17 (unchecked) (Article). SNN54946.

<5> GIBSON J.S.W., 1976, Three Lost Northamptonshire Houses and Their Owners, p.311 (part checked) (Article). SNN41445.

<6> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.56 Site 19 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<7> Unknown, 1725 (circa), Steane, (unchecked) (Painting). SNN107417.

<8> Tillemans P., 1719, Prospect of Steane House to the North, (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN109156.

<9> Photographs of buildings in Farthinghoe (Photographs). SNN111720.

<10> Unknown, 1725 (circa), Steane, (unchecked) (Painting). SNN107417.

<11> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 587-8 (Book). SNN111989.

<12> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 6" 1955 (Map). SNN112944.

<12> Historic England, Undated, STEANE PARK, FARTHINGHOE, BF061893 (Archive). SNN115528.

<13> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, F1 JB 09-APR-70 (Notes). SNN110341.

<14> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/247/9-11 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Oct 24 2024 11:39AM