Building record 4821/3/1 - Manor Farm House & Attached Outbuilding

Manor house, now farmhouse. Date on beam IEA/1593, datestones R/AF/1653 and R/AF/1670, minor C19 restoration. Squared coursed limestone with Collyweston slate roof.

{1} Manor house, now farmhouse. Date on beam IEA/1593, datestones R/AF/1653 and R/AF/1670, minor C19 restoration. Squared coursed limestone with Collyweston slate roof. T-shape plan, probably of different builds. 2 storeys with attic. Elevation to road is 3 bays. 2-window range with central C17 four-light stone mullion window with king mullion. C19 style casements to left with ashlar dressings and stone lintels; ground floor window has C17 hood mould. Evidence of blocked windows in bay to left. Ash ar gable parapets with kneelers and finial to left. Ashlar end stack with moulded cornices, partially reconstructed ashlar stack at ridge. Left gable has 3-light stone mullion attic window. Right gable has diamond shape plaque with date 1670. Elevation of rear wing to left is a 2-window range of C17 three-light stone mullion windows with hood moulds, that to ground floor left is a C19 style casement with original head. Doorway to right. Return wall to right has a similar C19 style casement at ground floor and stone mullion window at first floor. Elevation of rear wing to right is similar to left elevation but with part-glazed door in return wall. Rear gable has plaque with date 1653 in moulded relief. C18 outbuilding attached to rear gable has ironstone quoins and C19 and C20 door and window openings. Interior: ground floor room to centre of front elevation has large open fireplace with bressumer. Room to left has late C17/early C18 stone fireplace with reeding to surround and key lock. Both rooms have chamfered beams with fleur-de-lys decoration to stops. Central post with moulded brackets is now incorporated in wall between rooms and cellar stair. Ceiling beam of left room has date 1593 and inverted inscription "Jehovah". Room to right has C17 fireplace with 4-centred head. Through-passage across intersection of wings has close-studded wall with no evidence of original door opening into rear wing. First floor room to centre of front elevation has early C16 plaster over antle with large upper panel decorated with oak leaves and fleur-de-lys, strapwork frieze below. Room to right has similar overmantle with arcading and 3 short pilasters. 4-centre head. Close-studded screens to some first floor rooms and dog-leg stair to attic. C17 panelled door to understairs cupboard. John Bridges, the Northamptonshire historian, held the manor of Wadenhoe until his death in 1724.

{5} The 'jehovah' carved on the spine beam is a ritual mark to ward off the devil and other evil spirits. It is inverted so that it could be seen by evil spirits flying over the farmhouse.

{6} Three undated photos, also photo dated 03.11.1989;

{7} Photo dated 4th May 1963;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 9/232 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G08 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41470.

<3> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.149 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100370.

<4> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 631 (Book). SNN111989.

<5> Giggins, B., 2010, Apotropaeic Markings, (checked) (Correspondence). SNN107663.

<6> Photographs of buildings in Wadenhoe (Photographs). SNN113721.

<7> Miss June Swann, 1960s- 70s, Miss June Swann Photographic Archive (Photographs). SNN116665.

Record last edited

Mar 5 2025 10:53AM