Building record 607/2/1 - Ashby St Ledgers Manor House

Manor house constructed during the 16th/17th century, incorporating a Medieval house. It was enlarged in 1652 and modernised 1904-29 by Edwin Lutyens. Built of coursed squared ironstone, ashlar quoins, stone stacks and a tile roof.

{1} Manor House. C15-C17. Remodelled and enlarged 1904-38 by Sir Edwin Lutyens for Ivor Guest, second Lord Wimborne. Alterations in 1968-9 by Jellicoe and Coleridge. The original domestic buildings consisted of three groups around a courtyard. The dwelling house on the west side; a range to the north, originally separate, now linked to the main house by C20 additions forming an L-shaped block; and a group on the south side consisting of stables (q.v.) gatehouse (q.v.) and dovecote (q.v.). The east courtyard is enclosed by walls and a gateway with ornamental piers (q.v.). Dwelling house, C16 and C17. Datestone 1652 on south side records a remodelling begun but not completed by John Ianson, died 1657. The symmetrical garden front was formed in 1909 by Lutyens who added a suite of rooms across the east front with central and north-east projections in Jacobean style to balance Ianson's south-east wing. Main block is therefore now double-pile E-plan. Coursed squared ironstone walls, tile roof, stone stacks. West front to courtyard, 2 storeys and attic; 5 bays. Central doorway with flat-arched moulded wood frame and old studded plank door. Regularly spaced stone mullioned windows have 3 arched lights with cut spandrels and square hoods. 3 gabled dormers with 3-light stone-mullioned windows. Coped gable ends with ball finials. Square staircase tower with balustraded parapet which, on south side links with south-east wing of 1652 which has a shaped gable. Late medieval half timber house (q.v.) was attached to the north side in the early C20. On the north side, the Stone Hall, added by Lutyens in 1909-10, is the full height of the main block with a similar shaped gable. Projecting forward from the Stone Hall is a one storey range in ironstone by Lutyens. This is the Dining Room, 1904 (now kitchen), with a bay window added in 1938 and an extension to the Dining Room of 1924, in minimal Tudor style with cubic shapes and a large canted bay window. This range ends with a small courtyard divided from the main courtyard by gates and ornamental stone piers. The entrance and exit have semi-circular flights of steps forming a circular landing. At the rear, a carriageway spanned by a half timbered corridor connecting with the north range. North range, C17, once a separate dwelling, was converted in the early C20 to form servants rooms and nurseries. Ironstone ashlar, tile roof, stone stacks, 2 storeys and attic, 4 bays. Doorway from right has chamfered stone frame and plank door. 3-light stone-mullioned window with flat moulded hood to right. Similar window to left. 2-light stone-mullioned window in second bay from left and C18-C19 stone arched carriage entrance in left bay. 3-light stone-mullioned windows to first floor, except for similar 2-light window in second bay from left. Gabled dormers with 3-light stone-mullioned windows. Coped gable ends with ball finials. Interior: The C16 house is a 3-room cross-passage plan. Hall (screen removed) with contemporary wall panelling that continues as an overmantel to the stone fireplace (moulded with high-set stops). To either end of this range are open well stairs, C17, turned balusters and ball finials and pendants to newels. Many rooms with panelling, some in situ, some brought in at the time of Lutyen's alterations (one with good pedimented doorcases). Tapestry room with moulded stone door surrounds and large fireplace, with attached columns to overmantel, and niches to sides. A service wing by Lutyens north of the house was demolished in 1968. The Manor passed to the Catesby family by marriage in the C14. William Catesby who died c.1472, is buried in the church. His son, William, was the Chancellor of the Exchequer to Richard III. Robert Catesby in 1604 financed the schemes for Guy Fawkes. In 1612 the manor passed to Bryan L'anson, a London draper and in 1703 was purchased by Joseph Ashley, also a draper. In 1903 passed to Ivor Guest, later second Lord Wimborne.

{8}{9} Sales advertisement including pictures.

{12} Undated photo;

{14} The old manor house of Ashby St. Ledgers lies on three sides of a court immediately north of the church. The original domestic buildings consist of (i) the dwelling-house, [AO:60:382:7 (right)] (ii) a somewhat similar north range seen on the left, (iii) the group on the south side [AO:60:382:8] of which the main range retains an arched doorway of 15th century form. The only direct evidence of their age is the date 1652 in the south-east gable of the south side of the dwelling-house.
The timber framed gatehouse [AO:60:382:6; SP 5730 6822] near the ancient dovecot [see AO:60:382:8 SP 5732 6822] is traditionally associated with meetings of Robert Catesby and the Gunpowder Plotters. [Plan:AO:60:383:1].

{19} Manor House, Ashby St. Ledgers. Correctly described above {14} and in excellent condition.

{20} No change.
{21} [Former list description] Principally C.16-17 much enlarged and modernized between 1904 and 1929 by Sir E. Lutyens.
Probably on the site of and incorporating a medieval house belonging to the family of Cranford, it was the property and house of the Catesby family from the reign of Richard II until 1611. Stone with old tile roof.
The older buildings of three separate parts are grouped round a wide court approached from the west. The main building forms the east side of this court, and has a roughly symmetrical front of
two storeys and attic with three gables dormers and 5 bays. All windows are 3 light stone mullioned with arched heads to lights and drip moulds and the small central door has a similar flat arched head in a rectangular recess. This block was originally one room thick containing hall and kitchen.
Adjoining to the south and east is an extension dated 1652 consisting of a square three storeyed block with two storey angular bays on south and east sides, each with large mullioned and transomed windows on ground and first floors, tied to the adjoining walls by narrow strings over heads of windows and crowned with low paraphets. The 2nd floor windows, 3-light, are placed in gables behind the bays, that facing south of ogee head on quadrant shaped base. Between this block and the south east corner of the older building is a staircase tower (also 1652) with 3-light casements on each stage and crowned with a stone balustrade. A classic door with eared architrave, frieze and cornice was placed in the south end of the old block, probably at the same time, giving access to a walled garden between the house and the churchyard in which is a series of C.17 stone statues.
The interior of this building has been considerably altered, but the south east ground floor room has panelling of about 1660 with dado enriched by small arches with carving in the spandrels and
panels of alternating vertical and horizontal rectangles above, crowned by an enriched frieze and cornice. The fireplace of two tiers under the frieze and cornice has flanking pilasters with scroll enrichment and coats of arms in the panelling above. The east front has been remodelled symmetrically by Lutyens and the north east room corresponding to the south east has panelling
of about 1700. On the south side of the forecourt approached through C.17 stone gate piers with niched seats and bold flask shaped finials, a medieval gate house with timber framed upper part forms an inner entry. This is flanked at right angles on the east and faced at the north by stone gabled medieval buildings, formerly stables.
On the north side of the forecourt is a C.17 block of two storeys and attic with gabled ends on east and west stone mullioned casements and a C.18 arched coach door in L.H. corner of south front. This block, now residential, has similar gabled dormers to main house west front.
The forecourt is bounded on the west side by C.17 stone walls and tall central gateway of rusticated stone piers crowned with finials of the same design as those next churchyard.
Among the extensive additions north of the main block, a timber framed medieval building brought from Ipswich forms a north prolongation of the east front.
Note:- William Catesby, Speaker and Chancellor of the Exchequer in the time of Richard II is buried in the adjoining church. Robert Catesby of the Gunpowder Plot was living here up to the time of his capture at Holbeach.

{?} Ashley obtained property in 1703. Lutyens designed new garden in early C20th. Held by John Catesby temp Edward III. Robert Catesby attained in 3rd year of James I. Associations with The Gunpowder Plot. By 1619 the property was owned by Brianianson, citizen and draper of London. Now held by John Ashley. The Manor passed to the Catesby family by marriage in the C14th.

{23} Two photos dated 1887, one dated 1886, three drawings/plans, one undated, one dated 1886 and one 1887, also note dated March 26th 1883;

{24} Two photos dated 1960;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 17/7 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F04 p.6 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN44900.

<3> ROBINSON J.M., 1989, The Country House At War, p.135 (unchecked) (Book). SNN48506.

<4> 1998, Buildings At Risk Survey, p.41 (checked) (Report). SNN43352.

<5> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.90-93 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<6> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, p.6 (part checked) (Catalogue). SNN48313.

<7> Hussey C., 1951, Ashby St. Ledgers, p.274ff, 348ff, 420ff, 496ff (unchecked) (Journal). SNN105306.

<8> 1988, Country Life (1988), (checked) (Magazine). SNN109017.

<9> 1991, Horse and Hound, (checked) (Magazine). SNN109018.

<10> Addison, C., c.1990, Ashby St. Ledgers, (checked) (Photographs). SNN109020.

<11> Addison, C., 1990s, Ashby St. Ledgers, (checked) (Negatives). SNN109021.

<12> Photographs of buildings in Ashby St Ledgers (Photographs). SNN111860.

<13> Eyre T. (Revised by Jefferys T.), 1779, Map of the County of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Map). SNN1852.

<14> 1951, Country Life (1951), 496-99 (Journal). SNN54638.

<15> BROWN J., 1982, Gardens of A Golden Afternoon, p.167 (unchecked) (Book). SNN59067.

<16> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.16 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<17> Weaver L., 1913, Houses and Gardens by E.L. Lutyens, p.158ff (unchecked) (Book). SNN105305.

<18> Mowl T.; Hickman C., 2008, The Historic Gardens of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN106082.

<19> Phillips, AS, 1962, Field Investigators Comments, F1 ASP 04-MAY-62 (Note). SNN113328.

<20> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, F2 JB 17-MAR-69 (Note). SNN111452.

<21> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, District of Daventry Rural District. Northants. February 1964 (Report). SNN112993.

<22> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, District of Daventry (Mar 1987) (Report). SNN112993.

<23> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/12/1-7 (Archive). SNN115.

<24> Miss June Swann, 1960s- 70s, Miss June Swann Photographic Archive (Photographs). SNN116665.

Record last edited

Dec 4 2024 2:20PM