Building record 589/6/1 - Manor Farmhouse

Manor house, now farmhouse. C17 with earlier origins, remodelled early C18. Coursed squared ironstone, old tile roofs with brick end and lateral stacks. Archaeological investigation has identified probable medieval manorial remains predating the existing buildings and, in some cases, as in situ elements within the extant building. The foundations of a possible apsidal building may suggest the presence of a chapel.

{1} Manor house, now farmhouse. C17 with earlier origins, remodelled early C18. Coursed squared ironstone, old tile roofs with brick end and lateral stacks. 2 storeys and attic; 4-window range widely spaced. 6-panel part-glazed door to right of centre with straight hood. Wood mullion and transom window to right with stone sill and lintel with keyblock. One-storey hipped projection to left with one mullion and transom window to front, another to far left. Similar window to first floor. Stone coped gabled roof to right. 3 hipped roof dormers. Back has 3-and 4-light stone mullion windows, a lateral stack supported on corbels and a C17 canted stone oriel window on polygonal corbels. Interior: sitting room has moulded cross-beam roof. Stop-chamfered spine beams.

{3} Excavation within the close to the south end of the existing manor house revealed medieval elements including a filled room with waist-level cupboard and internal sub-division. A distinctive segmental apse fragment which lies outside may have an ecclesiastical origin. This may be the remains of the manorial chapel licensed between 1231 and 1265. the cupboard may be an aumbry. Two possible Anglo-Saxon window heads are built high in the chimney stack above the drawing room. An in situ fireplace lintel in the north gable wall suggests that the north end of the manor house lies where the medieval precursor did, possibly with little change.

{4} Undated photo;

{7} The patrons of the church granted between 1231 & 1264 licence to erect a free chapel on the manor of Preston Capes

{8} Whilst the front of the house is 18th c the rear is 16/17th c. A stone set high in the SW face has been defaced by the weather but according to the owner was dated 1605. Not outstanding - see photograph. It is not established whether the chapel, if built, formed part of the house.

{9} No change to field report of 7.5.70.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 15/106 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F05 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN44900.

<3> Soden I., 2008, Archaeological Watching Brief at Preston Capes Manor, Preston Capes, Northamptonshire, 2005-7, (unchecked) (Report). SNN106055.

<4> Photographs of buildings in Preston Capes (Photographs). SNN112975.

<5> Annotated Record Map, OS 6" 1955 (Map). SNN112961.

<6> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, MHLG list, Daventry Rd 1957, 84 (Report). SNN112993.

<7> Baker G., 1822-36, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p. 430 (Book). SNN10400.

<8> Seaman, B H, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 BHS 07-MAY-70 (Notes). SNN111541.

<9> Allanson, C D, 1976, Field Investigator's Comments, F2 CDA 29-OCT-76 (Notes). SNN112955.

Record last edited

Feb 15 2024 12:14PM