Building record 3084/1/1 - Nos.50 and 51 (Manor Cottages)

Remains of former manor house, now incorporated within two cottages. The original manor house dates from the 13th century but the surviving range is probably mainly early 17th century in date, altered in the 19th century. Originally of courtyard plan, the building is now L-shaped. A manor was recorded on this site in 1272 and a licence to crenellate was granted in 1387. A map of 1630 shows ranges of buildings set around inner and outer courtyards. A moat once surrounded the manor house and the nearby chapel. This feature is only visible now as a fishpond complex. Landscaped gardens located further south possibly date to the early 17th century.

{1} Manor house, now 2 dwellings. Late C13 origins, surviving range is probably mainly early C17 modified C19. Squared coursed limestone and limestone ashlar, with Collyweston slate roofs. Originally courtyard plan now L-shaped. 2 storeys with attic. Main front is a 5-window range. First floor window, to far left, is C15 two-light window with cusped ogee-head lights and hood mould. Below is a C19 casement set in a medieval square-head opening. Other windows are C19 casements under wood lintels. 2 C19/C20 doors to centre are also under wood lintels. The bay to the far left is ashlar and breaks forward slightly. Central brick stack and 2 lateral brick stacks to left and right. C19 lean-to extension to left. Rear elevation has wing breaking forward to right, with gabled roof parallel to main roof. One C17, three-light, stone mullion window, to ground floor, and similar window, with transom, to first floor. Return wall has 2 similar, 3-light, windows. There is a single-light window with stone surround, set diagonally, at the junction of the main range and the projecting wing. There is evidence that this wing continued further eastward. There is also evidence of blocked doorways in the east gable and rear well of the main range. C19 single-storey extension to rear of main range. Interior not inspected but noted as having 2 open fireplaces and a C17 staircase with moulded handrail and square newels with shaped tops.

A manor was recorded an this site in 1272, William la Zouche obtained a licence to crenellate in 1387 and a map of 1630 shows buildings arranged around on inner and outer courtyard. A chapel was recorded as standing between the manor house and Church of St. John Baptist (q.v.). The Manor was bought by Moses Tryon in 1617 and he may have been responsible for some of the surviving building. The house had been largely dismantled by 1719 when the Tryon family made Bulwick Hall (q.v.) their principal residence. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire: p251; RCHM: An Inventory of Architectural Monuments in North Northamptonshire: p84; Northamptonshire Records 0ffice; Cartographical Collection).

{3} The earliest known manor house on the site was described in 1272 as having a great hall, great chamber with a fireplace, garderobe with a fireplace, a chamber of the religious men with a fireplace; there was also a high gatehouse with a garderobe, a great kitchen, stable, granary and chapel. All were built of cut stone and roofed with stone. This major building was described by Leland as 'builded castelle like' and a map of 1630 shows the outer and inner courtyards with buildings ranged along the north and west sides of the latter. The chapel, with a monument to George Lord Zouche who died in 1569 lay between the west range and the church and was in riuns in 1719. The main residential quarters were presumably in the adjacent west range and the surviving cottages were the central part of the north range and consequently would have been a subsidiary part of the house. The house had 13 hearths in 1673, but declined in importance after the rebuilding of Bulwick Hall in 1676 and was largely dismantled by 1719.The existing building consists of a long range which was largely refaced and reroofed in the early 19th century. The south front breaks forward at the west end where a thick ashlar wall of medieval date is incorporated. In the east gable are indications of a former steeply-pitched gable and a blocked first-floor external doorway; a similar blocked doorway features in the otherwise fetureless north wall. Internally there are no medieval features.

{4} A level 3 historic building recording survey was undertaken prior to the conversion of the existing building into a single dwelling.
Evidence of a first floor blocked opening in the west, medieval, elevation indicates that the building extended further west during the medieval period. Apotropaic marks, comprising circular 'daisy wheel' patterns and a possible 'M' shaped mark were noted on a 17th-century fireplace lintel.

{5} Undated photo.

{6} In 1305 William de la Zouche founded a chantry for 2 priests east of the parish church. In his history of Northamptonshire 'Bridges' mentions large ruins of the outer wall of a chapel there. Only a small part of the moat that once surrounded the manor house and chapel now remains.

{7} Other than the traceried window noted by authority {8} there are no remains of the chapel or chantry. The barn noted by this authority has been constructed as such although the fabric is only re-used. The present manor house is 18th century and later. The 'Moat' is a fishpond complex - this has been surveyed.

GP AO/61/125/6 Aspect from south showing traceried window at first floor level.

GP/AO/61/125/7 West wing showing probably 17th century windows.

GP/AO/61/125/8 " " " " from north east. [See HE archive].

{12} Documentary evidence regarding the medieval manor of Harringworth. In 1387 licence to crenellate manor house was obtained, also the liberty of holding a yearly fair for three days & weekly market every Tuesday;

Licence to crenellate a manerium obtained Henry VI 10, 1431-2;

{13}Male issue of Souches failed (Eliz) estate sold to Clark of Bulwick and house pulled down.

{14}William la Zouch of Totterneys obtained licence to inclose with a stone wall and make a castle of his manor house here.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 11/142 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G11 (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. 84/site 3 & Fig 103 (Series). SNN77384.

<4> Phillips, M, 2014, Harringworth Manor Cottages, Harringworth, Northants: Archaeological building recording (Report). SNN111916.

<5> Photographs of buildings in Harringworth (Photographs). SNN112529.

<6> VICAR, 1888, NOTES ON HARRINGWORTH CHURCH (Uncertain). SNN48193.

<7> Colquhoun, FD, 1961, Field investigators comments, F1 FDC 7-SEP-1961 (Notes). SNN113017.

<8> Rutland Archaeological Society Report, 1915/p. 63 (Journal). SNN114602.

<9> Historic England, MANOR COTTAGES, HARRINGWORTH, BF084520 (Archive). SNN115344.

<10> VICAR, 1888, NOTES ON HARRINGWORTH, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN48177.

<11> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, Parish Files (unchecked) (Archive). SNN115.

<12> Parker, Domestic Architecture in England, 3/PART 2/422 (Book). SNN56159.

<13> CAMDEN, 1806, Britannia, (unchecked) (Book). SNN47888.

<14> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN100366.

<15> Leland J., 1543, Itinerary, (unchecked) (Series). SNN13988.

Record last edited

Jul 20 2023 1:04PM