Building record 2164/2/1 - The Manor House, Cranford St John

Large house. Early C17 (possibly earlier origin) with later alterations. Coursed limestone rubble with ashlar dressings.

{1} Large house. Early C17 (possibly earlier origin) with later alterations. Coursed limestone rubble with ashlar dressings. C19 plain-tile roofs with coped gables and C20 finials. Moulded stone lateral and gable end stacks (repaired 1985). Main block and western cross wing which, with staircase wing and additional wing to south, creates a triple-gabled south facade. 2 storeys and attics. South facade: gable end of west wing has three 3-light ovolo-moulded stone mullioned windows with cornices over. Slightly later central staircase wing has four 3-light windows, the lower left-hand window now only of 2 lights as a result of the later insertion of a doorway with gauged stone head, a 4-light window with king mullion and a sundial in the gable. Right-hand bay, later still and slightly recessed has a 3-light window to ground and first floor and a single-light window above. West front, altered probably early C19, has central C20 door in moulded stone architrave with pulvinated frieze and cornice, flanked by 3-light mullioned and transomed windows with cornices. First floor has two 3-light and a 2-light mullioned window. Similar details to north gable end of west wing. North front of main block has C19 windows but a number of blocked openings can be traced including a doorway to right. Interior: very fine early C17 full-height dog-leg staircase (similar to that in Burton Latimer Hall (q.v.)) with gadrooned string, flat Ionic balusters, panelled newel posts, elaborate openwork rooms divided by reset C17 panelling. North room has inglenook fireplace (in colossal main stack) and richly-moulded spine beam, south room has painted sundial on ceiling. First floor north room has moulded stone flat 4-centred arched fireplace. Main block divided at ground floor level to form corridor and 2 rooms. Flagged floor. Jowled stone fireplace in first floor west room. Datestone TM/AD 1629 set in paving in front of west door.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 19/147 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

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

<2> 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), K1/4 p.32 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN100754.

<3> 1805, Cranford St John Inclosure Map (NRO Map 3019), (checked) (Map). SNN102464.

Record last edited

Nov 3 2022 3:45PM