Building record 707/5/1 - The Beeches

Farmhouse. Early C18. Coursed squared limestone, rendered to front and right sides, artificial slate roof, hipped to right, stone end stack to left, brick lateral stack to right.

{1} Farmhouse. Early C18. Coursed squared limestone, rendered to front and right sides, artificial slate roof, hipped to right, stone end stack to left, brick lateral stack to right. Double-depth plan. 2 storeys and attic; 4-window range. Central 6-panel door with overlight and straight stone hood on brackets, flanked by 3-light wood mullion and transom windows, similar 2-light windows to first floor. Stone-coped gable to left, and 2 hipped dormers. Interior has ogee stop-chamfered spine beams, stone-flagged floors, open-well staircase from ground floor to attic with turned balusters, open fireplace with chamfered bressumer and timber bolection-moulded fireplace in upper room. Collar-truss roof.

{3} Beeches house was built as a rectory but a new rectory was built in 1837. In the 1850s the house became a farmhouse. In 1994 the house became purely domestic. The kitchen is a 19th century brick addition.

{4} There are a number of other buildings within the village that are connected with Sir Geoge Gilbert Scott that provide an important insight into his early career and development and that includes Beeches Farm. This was the rectory immediately prior to Scott’s rectory and was subject to minor work by Scott in order for his mother and younger siblings to move into after his father had died.

{7} The house was acquired in 1833 by the Rev Thomas Scott. On his arrival he commissioned his eldest son, George Gilbert Scott to design a new Rectory, which was completed in two years in 1835. After the death of Revd Scott, his widow continued to live at The Beeches (the old rectory), the living given to the younger brother of GG Scott. The new Revd opened a school for 'gentlemen borders from the colonies' and the attics of The Beeches were adapted as dormitories. Graffiti recorded included a pencil insciption reading 'R G Scott/ 5' 3 1/2" Nov 25 1852'. The top landing and the three attic rooms are wallpapered throughout. Photographs of all examples.

{8} Undated photo, also photo dated 25.11.1993;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 11/86 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F07 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> Judge, K., 2013, Recording of the Barn at Beeches House, Wappenham, (checked) (Report). SNN108663.

<4> Walker, C., 2012, Supplementary Heritage Assessment for Wappenham Wind Turbine November 2012, (checked) (Report). SNN109269.

<5> Wappenham Community Website, (unchecked) (Website). SNN109315.

<6> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 636 (Book). SNN111989.

<7> Woodfield, P, Undated, Wallpaper collection in attics of The Beeches, Wappenham, formerly the Old Rectory (Note). SNN112067.

<8> Photographs of buildings in Wappenham (Photographs). SNN114134.

Record last edited

Jun 23 2025 1:32PM