Building record 3907/0/27 - Montagu Hospital

Almshouse, now house. Dated 1611. Limestone ashlar, with Collyweston stone slate roof, coped gablet and moulded stone end stacks.

{1} Almshouse, now house. Dated 1611. Limestone ashlar, with Collyweston stone slate roof, coped gablet and moulded stone end stacks. 2 storeys. 4-window range. Symmetrically disposed. Central Tudor-headed entrance, beneath classical entablature, breaking forward on brackets at either end to carry ornate obelisks. Frieze inscribed "WHAT.THOU.DOEST.DO.YT.IN.FAYTH". Wide-boarded studded door, on strap hinges. Above the doorway is the Montagu arms in a scrolly cartouche decorated with strapwork, above painted sundial dated 1631 which incorporates the carved date of 1611, and crowning the centrepiece is an elaborate curved gable with kneelers and obelisk finials, and a central circular blind panel. Casement-moulded string course above the ground floor windows. First floor recessed, above a chamfered set-off. Ovolo-moulded stone-mullioned windows with rectangular-leaded casements, a 2-light and a 4-light on each floor to each side of the centrepiece. Sundial to south gable end. Interior not inspected.

{3} Three undated photos, also undated photo showing Montagu Hospital and Church of St Mary.

{4} The building, now used as a rectory, is in good condition. See photographs.

{5} [Former list description] The Old Almshouse
*Dated 1611. A long two-storey house of limestone, ashlar, with a steep pitched Colley Weston roof, a tall stone double chimney stack on both end gables, the verges of which rise well above the slate. Crowning the otherwise simple symmetrical front there is an elaborate curved gable with moulded edge three tall finials and in the centre a circular light. This gable is on a vertical carrying-up of the face and is ballanced by the entablature over the doorway. The head of the doorway is a simple moulded four centre arch and on both sides of it is a large modillion
supporting the entablature. The frieze is inscribed "WHAT THOU DOEST DO YT IN FAYTH". On the ends of the heavy cornice is a tall finial on a shell base and between them the Arms of the Montagus. There are four very widely spaced mullioned windows to both storeys, the end ones 4-light and the inner 2-light, and those of the ground storey are larger than those of the second storey. Above the ground storey windows there is a continuous moulding
which is stepped up at the ends of the entablature and again to enclose the coat-of-arms. In 1831 a sundial was painted on to the wall below the gable and the pattern incorporates the figures 1611 which are incised above the moulding over the Coat-of-arms.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 15/357 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), J12 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN100754.

<3> Photographs of buildings in Weekley (Photographs). SNN113887.

<4> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, F1 JB 22-JUL-1969 (Note). SNN111452.

<5> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, DOE (HHR) Dist of Kettering R.D Northants 1950, 32 (Report). SNN112993.

<6> Historic England, THE OLD ALMSHOUSE, WEEKLEY, BF085105 (Archive). SNN115301.

Record last edited

Aug 25 2023 9:58AM