Building record 1668/6/1 - Grafton Manor

Grafton Manor, built prior to the mid 15th century, came into royal possession in 1526 when Henry VIII acquired the manor and surrounding land from Thomas, second Marquis of Dorset, exchanging it for land at Loughborough and Shepshed in Leicestershire. Soon after the acquisition Henry ordered alterations to be carried out, repairing the decaying manor house. Henry visited Grafton often throughout his reign, and it was here that he met with Cardinal Wolsey for the last time, in 1529. By 1536 Grafton was one of Henry's houses that received regular maintenance and in 1542 it was appointed the head of a new 'honor', or grouping of royal estates in that area. Elizabeth I was to visit Grafton on progress in 1564, 1568 and 1575, however by the reign of James I the house was falling into disrepair. In 1628 King Charles I sold the manor to Sir Francis Crane who was said to have partially demolished the house. In 1643 Parliamentary forces took control of the house and set it alight for the 'prevention of future inconveniences' and leaving it in ruins. Grafton Manor which currently occupies the site is a 17th and 19th century house and said to have 16th century origins, however another source notes that the house contains no recognisable 16th century fabric. It is a 2-storey house constructed of coursed limestone rubble and limestone ashlar with a slate roof.

{1} Country house. C17 and C19 with C16 origins. Coursed limestone rubble and limestone ashlar, slate roof, rendered brick ridge and internal stacks. 2-storey, 4-window range. Double-depth plan. Entrance front has central gabled porch with studded door, overlight and flat-arched stone head. 2-light casement windows to ground and 1st floor, those to ground floor with flat-arched stone heads. Gabled wings project either end and have 4-light casements to ground floor, similar 3-light windows to lst floor with flat-arched stone heads to ground floor, wood lintels to let floor. 2-storey, 2-window early C19 extension to right with hipped roof and casement windows. Range to rear is higher. Garden front of ashlar has central 3-light ovolo-moulded stone mullion window and oriel window above with ovolo-moulded stone mullion windows with transoms. Paired 3-light ovolo-moulded stone mullion windows to ground and 1st floor left and right, those to 1st floor with transoms. 1-light window to ground floor far left with moulded stone surround. 2-light ovolo-moulded stone mullion window to 1st floor far left above. Small central stone-coped gable above oriel with kneelers and ironstone and limestone quoins. 2-storey C19 brick and stone extension to left. Interior has open well staircase with fat turned balusters and tall - panelled newel posts with finials and panelled risers; probably re-set. Two stone fireplaces with moulded jambs, Tudor-arched heads with decorative carving to spandrels and friezes - strapwork and Tudor roses to that in Dining Room, scallops and Tudor roses to that in Drawing Room.

{4} Grafton House. Detailed history of Grafton Manor from its acquisition by Henry VIII in 1526, its upgrading for use by Henry and Elizabeth I, and its gradual fall into decay and finally left in ruins after Parliamentary forces set it on fire in 1643.
In 1526 Henry VIII acquired the 'fayre manor place of Grafton and goodly parks and land thereabouts' from Thomas, second Marquis of Dorset. Soon after the acquisition Henry ordered alterations to be carried out, repairing the decaying manor house. Henry visited Grafton often throughout his reign, and it was here that he met with Cardinal Wolsey for the last time, in 1529. By 1536 Grafton was one of Henry's houses receiving regular maintenance and in 1542 it was appointed the head of a new 'honor', or grouping of royal estates in that area. Elizabeth I was to visit Grafton on progress in 1564, 1568 and 1575 however by the reign of James I the house was falling into disrepair. In 1628 King Charles I sold the manor to Sir Francis Crane who said to have partially demolished the house in 1634. In 1643 the house was captured by Parlimentary forces and set alight for the 'prevention of future inconveniences'. The house was then left in ruins, the existing manor house appears to occupy part of the inital site, but incorporates no recognisable portion of its fabric. To the south, close to the road there is a house called The Chantry, whose north wall is lit by a range of Tudor mullioned windows. It is possible that this house may have formed part of the 'offices along on the street side' which is mentioned in Tudor accounts.

{5} Two undated photos;

{6} According to this source, the bowling alleys that existed at Grafton and Woking, while less prestigious than the alley at Hampton Court, are considered to important because the repair accounts contain information about their structure and function.

{7} In November 1643, the royalists began to fortify Lady Crane's house at Grafton. By the beginning of December, the garrison was described, probably with some exaggeration, as 'a place of great strength and consequence', with fortifications encompassing both Grafton House and the church. The defences are perhaps likely to have enclosed an area of no more than c100m by 200m, but as yet no trace has been found. The siege lasted two days with significant ordnance discharged. The house was thoroughly ransacked before being destroyed on Christmas Day 1643.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 13/42 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

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

<3> 1998, SMR REPORT FORM, (unchecked) (Plan). SNN54321.

<4> Brown R.A.; Colvin H.M.; Taylor, 1982, The History of The Kings' Works (Vol.IV), (unchecked) (Series). SNN60132.

<5> Photographs of buildings in Grafton Regis (Photographs). SNN112573.

<6> Thurley, S, 1993, The royal palaces of Tudor England: architecture and court, p. 189 (Book). SNN115081.

<7> Dr Glenn Foard, The Civil War Siege at Grafton Regis (Website). SNN115841.

Record last edited

Feb 22 2024 12:14PM