Building record 3884/2/1 - Croyland Abbey (Borough of Wellingborough Planning & Building Dept)

Manor House, now offices. Probably mid 16th century with mid 19th century additions

{1} Manor House, now offices. Probably mid C16 with mid C19 additions. Regular coursed and banded limestone and ironstone with slate roof. Originally hall plan with cross wing to end, now complex. 2 storeys with attic and basement. Entrance front of 6-window range of 2- to 5-light stone mullion windows, those to centre gable may be C17 with drip moulding over; others are C17 reset and C19. C19 gabled porch to left of centre has C20 doors under 4-centred moulded stone arch. Centre gable is probably C16 with ashlar gable parapet, kneelers and finial. Pair of projecting gables to right and range to left are mid C19 in similar style. Stone stacks with moulded cornice at ridge and end. Garden front is in similar style. Centre gable is probably C16 with C19 stone mullion windows. 4-window range to left is probably C16 and originally contained the hall. One C16 three-light stone mullion staircase window to left of gable has similar dormer window above and similar 3-light window to left, other windows are C19 stone mullions. 2-window range to left is C19 in similar style with a pair of roof dormers. Interior has C17 staircase with flat tapering balustrade. First floor of former hall retains exposed roof trusses with moulded tie beams and some curved wind braces: also some late C17 panelling, now reset. Fragments of carved masonry in wall of staircase hall.

{2} Manor House, now offices. Probably mid 16th century with mid 19th century additions. Originally hall plan with cross wing to end, now complex. 2 storeys with attic and basement. Entrance front of 6-window range.

{3} Standing building of Croyland Abbey; this was the main structure of a grange of the medieval abbey of Crowland in Lincolnshire.

{4) Croyland Hall, as the grange was known in the post medieval period, is said to have been built in 1281 by Abbot Richard. At that time it was stated of the manor that 'the gate and one or two windows appear to be antique. And on the left hand of the entrance was an antient granary, lately taken down. The gardens lie on a southern descent to a rivulet called Swanspool. In Meere's close are certain hollows, supposed to have been ponds fed with the springs which the rising ground abounds with.' The building is currently used as local authority offices. For further details of the Hall see main report and listing description.

{7} A wall within the present lobby of Croyland Abbey most probably relates to the seventeenth century phase of the building's history, but due to it being plastered the fabric cannot be determined or dated other than by assocation with the plan of the remaining building.

{8} Undated photo;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 11/152 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1986, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G04 p.71 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN100394.

<3> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1975, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1974, p.171 (unchecked) (Report). SNN41605.

<4> Foard G, 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Wellingborough (Medieval + Post Medieval), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100339.

<5> 1771, Survey of Wellingborough Hatton manor 1771, (unchecked) (Document). SNN100360.

<6> James, W., 1803, Wellingborough Town 1803, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100362.

<7> Prentice, J., 2000, Historic Fabric Analysis at Croyland Abbey, Tithe Barn Road, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN106755.

<8> Photographs of buildings in Wellingborough (Photographs). SNN115387.

Record last edited

Apr 25 2025 9:18AM