Building record 1679/12/1 - Manor House

Manor house, now house and office. Mid C17, restored C19. Squared coursed limestone with C20 plain tile roof. T-shape plan. 2 storeys with attic. Main front of 3-window range with gabled cross wing breaking forward to right. Central square stone bay window with gable has 6-light stone mullion window, with transom, to ground floor and similar 6-light window to first floor. 2-light attic window is blocked. 2-light stone mullion windows to right bay, gable of cross wing and return wall of cross w ng. 2-light attic window to cross wing is blocked. Ribbed and studded door to left of centre has moulded stone surround with 4-centred arch head. Similar square-head door to return wall of cross wing is under wood lintel. Ashlar gable parapets and central ashlar stack. Rear elevation of 3-window range of mainly C19 stone mullion windows. Elevation to right of main front is a similar 2-window range. Interior: centre room has fine C17 full height panelling with frieze decorated with scrolls and v ne leaves. C17 fireplace with similar overmantel. Room to rear of cross wing has similar panelling with frieze decorated with vine leaves. C17 fireplace with 4-centred head. Moulded spine beams. C19 staircase to far left. Deeds indicate it was originally property of the Rectory, owned by Lawrence Washington in 1567. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.259).

Eayre's prospect of Higham of circa 1720 does show both the 'manor house' and a barn to the south east of the churchyard, set within hedged closes with standard trees, but significantly he describes it as the Parsonage House. The property can be equated with the Tythe Yard and associated buildings and closes to the east of the back lane, all described as 'tythe', on the map of 1737. The parsonage depicted by Norden must be the same property shown by Eayre and on the 1737 map but shown too far to the west, reflecting the high degree of inaccuracy in the Norden map, a problem further discussed below (10.0). The Freeman family had held the Rectory in the 17th century, Henry Freeman being the rector in 1681. Mr Freeman's house mentioned in 1649 on the west of the South Berry Close is therefore clearly the parsonage with a lane leading to it from the Chelveston road running on the east side of the castle. As the rectory had been leased out in the early 16th century to the College, it is possible that the parsonage with its farm buildings were not erected until after the dissolution. It may have been built by the rector on land enclosed from the open field together with the Bury closes and being the tithe portion of that inclosure at some time between 1535 and 1591. (4) (5)

{7} Two undated photos;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 20/73 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G07 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41470.

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> Foard G.; Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Higham Ferrers (Medieval - Industrial), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100543.

<5> COLBECK J., 1737, Higham Ferrers, 1737 (NRO Map 1004), (unchecked) (Map). SNN100548.

<6> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, p.37 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45409.

<7> Photographs of buildings in Higham Ferrers (Photographs). SNN115452.

Record last edited

Sep 27 2023 2:36PM