Building record 2707/2/12 - Stable & Granary c.18m East of The Prebendal Manor House

A medieval guest house and stable situated 18 metres east of Prebendal Manor House. The building is constructed of coursed and banded limestone with a double pitched corrugated iron roof. The entrance front has a central door with a small window to the right and a blocked doorway to the left. The building was altered during the 19th century and became a stable with a granary above. The building was then converted into a dwelling during the 20th century when a thatch roof was removed.

{1} Probably a guest house or stable for the Prebendal Manor House, now stable and granary. Medieval origin altered C19 and C20. Regular coursed and squared coursed and banded limestone with corrugated iron roof. Original plan indeterminate now truncated to form a single unit stable at ground floor with granary above. Central doorway under wood lintel. Small window opening to right and blocked doorway with ashlar dressings, to left. Hayloft door to first floor. Weatherboarded gable end. Thatch roof removed early C20. Interior: curved recess of former stair. The building originally extended further to the north.

{4} During November 1992-February one of the out-buildings at The Prebendal Manor House Nassington was installed with damp course, this involved the removal of the cobbled floor and the excavation of 0.3m of subsoil. Excavation revealed modern features and quantities of bone. Underneath the modern features a layer of dark grey silt extended over the floor area and apparantly under the walls. The deposit contained sherds of Stamford Ware. One feature was recorded although its function was not clear it contained 1 sherd of Stamford ware and an intact tanged iron knife blade measuring 102mm it resembles a type 2761 from the Winchester series possibly dating to the mid 13th century.

{5} With regards to the Lodgings, the prebendaries were obliged to provide lodgings for 6 clerics and their horses for 12 days annually. They were also obliged to provide fodder and stabling for their horses. Initially the building was twice its current length. It is documented as having been of part thatch and part slate. It was reduced in size during the mid 18th century. One section of wall still survives as does the footings of the original longer building. Some time after 1920 the whipped thatched roof caught fire, burning out almost all the original timbers. None survived in the roof and almost all the oak timber flooring was also destroyed. A new roof of Welsh blue slate was put on the building in 1991/92. The windows were also re-done at that time as was the gable end which was built in stone.

{6} The stable block was originally the lodgings and stabling for the Bishop's retinue in medieval times and is now converted into a domestic dwelling.

{7} Undated photo, also photo dated 16.07.1991;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 16/181 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G12 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41470.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1984, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.125 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77384.

<4> Baille J.; Tingle M., 1992, Excavations at The Prebendal Manor House, Nassington, p.105 (checked) (Article). SNN62089.

<5> Baile, J., 1996, Proposed Extension to the Lodging Building, Prebendal Manor House, Nassington, (unchecked) (Correspondence). SNN106453.

<6> FOSTER P., 1997, Prebendal Manor, Nassington, Interim Report on The 1997 Excavations, (unchecked) (Interim Report). SNN46038.

<7> Photographs of buildings in Nassington (Photographs). SNN112850.

<8> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, District of Listing: East Northamptonshire. 12-OCT-1988 (Report). SNN112993.

<9> Historic England, Undated, PREBENDAL MANOR HOUSE, NASSINGTON, BF084211 (Archive). SNN113377.

Record last edited

May 6 2022 2:57PM