Building record 8182/1/1 - Park Farmhouse, Handley

Farmhouse, said to have been built in 1601 with C18, C19 and C20 alterations. Coursed squared ironstone, slate roofs, brick rear lateral, internal and end stacks on stone bases

{1} Farmhouse. Early C17 with C18, C19 and C20 alterations. Coursed squared ironstone, slate roofs, brick rear lateral, internal and end stacks on stone bases. L-plan. 2 storeys and attic; 5-window range. Main front faces garden and has low central 2-storey gabled porch with Tudor-arched stone doorway with cut spandrels and ridged and studded door, hollow-chamfered string course and horned plate glass sash window to first floor with stop-chamfered wood lintel. Similar windows to ground and first floors. Quoins and stone-coped gables with kneelers. Wing to rear right has similar sashes to first floor, large C19 bay window and C20 porch to side door. Interior: moulded and chamfered spine beams with ogee stops. Fine dog-leg staircase from ground floor to attic with squared balusters, moulded handrail and carved finials to newel posts. Timber spiral back stair with serpentine splat balusters to first floor landing rail and child gate. Open fireplace with chamfered depressed arched timber head. Boarded stud partitions. Stone flagged floors and collar truss roof. House is said to date from 1601.

{4} A 'house called the Lodge of Hanly' is mentioned in a document of 1629 and in a lease of 1664 'a mansion house...formerly called the Lodge and now newly built, together with one malthouse and all buildings adjoining'. By 1770, there are four farmhouses and two cottages or tenements and by 1803, four tenements with barns, stables and other buildings mentioned in leases for the estate.

{5} Towcester was the centre of a late Saxon royal estate and this administrative function persisted into the medieval period when it served as head of the hundred. The Domesday entry recorded that Towcester was held by the king and that it comprised 7½ hides, with land for 22 ploughs. Only 12 ploughs were accounted for in 1086: two ploughs which were held in demesne, and ten ploughs which were held by 15 villeins. There were 12 acres of meadow, and a wood two leagues long and one league wide. This large entry undoubtedly included the subsidiary hamlet known from the medieval period, Handley (?) which was part of Whittlebury Forest.

{6} Undated photo;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 6/114 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F08 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> Lucey, D., 2013, Mile Oak Farm, Towcester, Northamptonshire: Heritage Statement, p.17-19 (checked) (Report). SNN109745.

<4> 1601-1939, The Estate of Handley Park, Northamptonshire, 1601-1939 (Archive). SNN111709.

<5> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Laughton J.; Steadman S.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Towcester, 1.0 (checked) (Report). SNN103132.

<6> Photographs of buildings in Towcester (Photographs). SNN114425.

Record last edited

Feb 27 2024 10:04AM