Building record 6121/0/2 - Washington House

A Tudor manor house built in the late 16th and 17th century situated at Number 14, High Street in the village of Islip. It was constructed of squared coursed limestone and is covered by a Colleyweston slate roof. The single storey house has an attic and is six windows wide. The cross wing is gabled. The central porch is of the 20th century. Inside a few 17th century features can be found, for example the fireplace in the entrance hall and the splat balustrade to the staircase. The house was restored in the 20th century. It is believed that this was the Manor house of the Nowyche family. It was also the home of Dame Mary Washington, the great-grandmother of George Washington, President of the United States.

{1} House. Probably late C16 and C17, restored C20. Squared coursed limestone with Colleyweston slate roof. L-shape plan. Single storey with attic. Main front is a 6-window range of irregularly spaced C20 casements under wood lintels. Gabled cross wing to left has C20 leaded casement at first floor with hood mould over. 2 Lincolnshire dormers to right, with leaded casements. Ashlar gable parapets to cross wing. Ashlar stack at apex of gable with twin flues linked by an arch. Central ashlar stack wit moulded cornice. Elevation to left has C17 two-light stone mullion window at first floor with remains of squint to left. Central C20 porch. Interior: entrance hall has C17 corner fireplace with moulded stone surround and 4-centred arch head. C17 splat balustrade to staircase. Centre room has large open fireplace with bressumer and salt cupboards and a C18 corner cupboard. Wall adjacent to staircase is a close-studded timber frame, incorporating a raised cruck. First floor room at head of staircase has C17 corner fireplace with moulded stone surround and 4-centred-arch head. Wood corbels supporting roof trusses are visible in this room. Thought to have been the Manor house of the Nowyche family; also home of Dame Mary Washington, great-grandmother of George Washington.

{4} Washington House has also been included in the research, being reputed to be the honme of Mary Washington, the great-grandmother of George Washington.

{5} Undated photo;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 6/49 (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.215-216 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100370.

<4> Warner A., 2010, Archaeological Building Assessment of the Barns at Rectory Farm, Islip, Northamptonshire, p.2 (checked) (Report). SNN107307.

<5> Photographs of buildings in Islip (Photographs). SNN112820.

Record last edited

Jun 13 2023 10:19AM