Building record 1676/10/1 - The Priory, Grafton Road

Large house. 1588, and late C17 (for the Maydwell family) with some later modification. Ashlar and coursed limestone rubble with Collyweston stone slate roof, coped gables, moulded stone ridge and end stacks and a brick lateral stack.

{1} Large house. 1588, and late C17 (for the Maydwell family) with some later modification. Ashlar and coursed limestone rubble with Collyweston stone slate roof, coped gables, moulded stone ridge and end stacks and a brick lateral stack. 2 storeys and attic. Half-H plan. Garden front: 9 windows wide. (5 windows to main block and 2 windows to the gable end of each wing). 6/6 sashes linked by flush bands at window head level, and with flush keystones to ground floor. Windows to south wing and central ground floor window blind. Second window from left of main block originally a door. 5 hipped, 2-light small-paned iron-framed gudgeon-hung casement dormers to main block. Gables of wings of ashlar. South wing has ironstone quoins. Entrance front: projecting south wing dated 1588 has a 3-light ovolo-moulded stone-mullioned window in the gable, and similar blocked windows to ground and first floors of both gable end and right flank (left flank has a C19 French window, and a large 6/6 sash). Main block presumably originally 5 windows wide but central first floor window skilfully removed. Central pedimented porch with double 2-panelled doors masks roll-moulded stone architrave, with pulvinated frieze and cornice. Flush window-head band with flush keystones. Raised band. Cornice. Windows small-paned gudgeon-hung cross-casements. 5 dormers at garden front. Ground floor left-hand window blocked. Right-hand bay concealed by small C19 ashlar addition, with hipped roof and sash windows. Lower gabled addition in front of north wing has sash windows with gauged stone heads. Interior of south wing altered in C19 to create one left storey, but retains 2-bay original roof, with closed collar and tie beam truss and 2 tiers of butt purlins. Plaster in roof space has C19 graffiti. Interior of main block also considerably altered in C19, but hall retains bolection-moulded stone chimney piece. Some panelled doors. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire: p225)

{4}Evening Telegraph 25/3/93 article. It concerns the owner of this 16th century house trying to replace 50 windows. It went to appeal after Kettering Borough refused listed planning consent for these changes. The Secretary of State of the Environment agreed with the council.

{5} Three undated photos, also four photos dated November 1980;

{6} Thomas Maydwell of Geddington took up the lands in Geddington formerly belonging to Thomas Alderman as seen in the manor court rolls dated 1629. The name ‘Priory’ was almost certainly given to the house by Maydwell. Such names were frequently given to houses built by new estate owners of the former monastic lands. The land had become available after the Dissolution of the monasteries, which saw the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds have its land granted to Sir Edward Montagu of Boughton, Lord Chief Justice.
The site where the manor court was held, or ‘curia’, is where the present house known as ‘The Priory’ stands. It was probably built by the Maydwell’s in the latter part of the 17th century. The adjacent barns and stables may also have been built around the same time, but could have an earlier origin. The earlier west wing of the house dated 1588 may have belonged to Thomas Alderman, but was possibly the Maydwell’s first house there.
A map dated 1717 shows the house and yard and outbuildings. The enclosure map of 1808 shows the priory house and buildings. But the NW wing of the outbuildings has gone.
The gatehouse. The original entrance was through a gatehouse seen in a painting of 1795 named “Mr Lockwoods Nunnery Gate[?]" and recorded as being demolished by Stamp Brooksbank. Gatehouses were a common feature of monastic estate centres and this one has been dated to sometime in the second half of the 14th century. It is possible that the north gable wall of the gatehouse still survives as the end wall of the attached building named ‘Stoneleigh’ (dated 1619).

{7} The building is in good condition. The present occupant has lived in Geddington for c. 60 years and has been unable to find any evidence that the house was ever monastic.

{8} Geddington Priory - a name given with no apparent justification - stands near the river. It was built in 1588 but the majority of the building was added about 1720. (No evidence of monastic association traced).

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 14/282 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

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

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> EVENING TELEGRAPH, 1993, WINDOW BATTLE AT (GEDDINGTON) PRIORY IS LOST, 25/3/93 (Note). SNN40382.

<5> Photographs of buildings in Geddington (Photographs). SNN112170.

<6> Historic England, Unknown, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments, Correspondence from B Bellamy from original research on Geddington Lands of Abbey of St Edmundsbury (Oral Report). SNN111577.

<7> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, F1 JB 22-JUL-1969 (Note). SNN111452.

<8> Gotch J.A., 1939, Squires' Homes and Other Old Buildings of Northamptonshire, p. 11 (Book). SNN39616.

Record last edited

Nov 7 2024 8:52AM