Building record 1168/3/1 - Wicken Country Hotel (formerly The Rectory), Leckhamstead Road

{1} Hotel, formerly rectory. Built 1703 with late C19 and C20 alterations and additions. Coursed square limestone, ironstone dressings, plain-tile roofs, brick ridge stacks. 2 storeys and attic; 7-window range. Originally probably U plan. Central panelled, part-glazed door with moulded eared stone surround blank-panelled keyblock and broken segmental pediments ending in small volutes. 18-pane sash windows to ground floor, 24-pane sashes to 1st floor, those to ground floor with moulded stone surrounds and keyblocks, those to 1st floor with similar surrounds and broken segmental pediments with volutes, except for central 1st floor window which has scrolled double curves. The two bays either end break forward slightly and have stone-coped gables with kneelers and 2-light casement windows to attics with moulded stone surrounds and keyblocks. Chamfered plinth, flat-faced stone mullion cellar windows to right of centre, ironstone quoins, storey band at 1st floor level, storey bands to bases of gables and hollow-chamfered stone eaves to centre; central gabled dormer. Late C19 or early C20 2-storey bay window to left side. Right side elevation, partly hidden by single-storey lean-to extension has 5 bays, and sash windows to ground and 1st floors with flat-arched heads and 2 hipped dormers flanking central gabled dormer. C18 and C19 full-height extensions to rear. Interior: fine open-well staircase from ground to 1st floors with turned balusters. Open-well back stair with simpler turned balusters. C17 panelling to study. Stone cellar. The Rectory was built by Dr. William Trimnal soon after his induction in 1702 from materials of the demolished Spencer mansion. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire: 1973, p462; C.S. Dickin Moore, Wicken Church, 1967, p4)

{5} The house, a Grade II* listed building, was until recently the Wicken Country House Hotel. It was built in 1703 as a three pile, H plan structure of three storied, with limestone walls and detailing in ironstone. The house was extended to the north in the 18th century, extended again in the 19th century and continued as a rectory until it was sold and converted to a hotel around the 1960's. Little remains internally of the original fittings.

{6} Internally, little remains of the 18th century house except in the attics, and the back staircase. The main staircase is almost certainly a later insertion, derived from another building. Detailed building recording, plans and photos.

{7} Further recording was undertaken due to the discovery of hitherto unrecorded, significant structural features. These included: early decorative schemes in the hall and main stairwell, evidence of the 19th century remodelling of room 2, the false cellar in room 3, blocked windows and other openings in the rear of the first phase house, structural information on several ground floor partitions. The evidence from these provided additional evidence for dating the phases of the house.

{9} Work to convert the house into a single dwelling was proposed by Brian Walker Associates (architects) on behalf of Mr and Mrs Franklin, though dates of the proposed works and the document are unknown. Approval for the conversion was grantedby the council and confirmed by Mr Mike Pearson, Historic Buildings Officer.

{10} Undated photo, also photo dated 11.11.1993;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 17/137 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F11 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.462 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> Dickin Moore C.S., 1967, Wicken Church, p.4 (unchecked) (Guide). SNN103148.

<5> Zeepvat, B., 2002, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN102253.

<6> Zeepvat B.; Wilcox S., 2002, Historic Building Survey: The Old Rectory, Wicken, Northamptonshire, (checked) (Report). SNN102254.

<7> Zeepvat, B., 2003, Historic Building Survey Supplement: The Old Rectory, Wicken, Northamptonshire, (checked) (Report). SNN102493.

<8> CBA South Midlands Group, 2003, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (33), 33/39 (checked) (Journal). SNN103380.

<9> Brian Walker Associates, n.d., Appraisal of Wicken House for Mr and Mrs W. Franklin (Report). SNN111193.

<10> Photographs of buildings in Wicken (Photographs). SNN114205.

Record last edited

Nov 2 2022 10:49AM