Building record 3124/6/1 - No. 77 High Street (Manor House)

Manor House. C14 origins but mainly mid C18.

{1} Manor House. C14 origins but mainly mid C18. Squared coursed limestone and ironstone to rear with rendered front façade and slate roof. Originally probably a hall house then double-depth plan. 2 storeys with attic. Entrance front of 3-window range of sashes with glazing bars at first floor, tripartite sash to ground floor right and early C20 square wooden bay and attached porch to left and centre. Central 6-panel door has moulded wood surround and arch fanlight with glazing bars. 3 hipped roof dormers. Ashlar gable parapets and ashlar stacks at ends. Right gable has tall C14 blocked window opening and small blocked fire window to left. Rear has 2 large casements under wood lintels and 2 similar blocked openings. Interior not inspected but noted as having early C19 staircase with stick balusters.

{3} Evidence for a medieval house lies in the north gable, where there is a large blocked window with ogee head and hood mould, with hollow chamfer jambs and a sill height approx 4m above internal floor level. The tracery has apparently been removed in the 17th century and a smaller window formed, which itself was taken out and blocked at a subsequent period of alteration. There is sufficient evidence remaining to show that the tracery had two lights and a quatrefoil in the head, indicative of a 1300-1350 date. The internal span of the building is 6.5m, that is wider than other parallel examples in the county.
There is a tradition that this building was once the rectory. Although the window position suggests that it lights the solar room of the house, the width of the building is probably governed by the original hall in the same range. The indications are that the scale of the building is more appropriate to a manor house than a rectory.

{5} Undated photo, also two photos dated January 1977;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 5/190 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1986, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G05 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN100394.

<3> Woodfield P., 1981, The Larger Medieval Houses of Northamptonshire, 16/175 (checked) (Article). SNN23550.

<4> R.C.H.M.E., 1992, National Archaeological Record Recording Form, (checked) (Recording Form (Not SMR)). SNN60525.

<5> Photographs of buildings in Irchester (Photographs). SNN112806.

Record last edited

Jun 19 2025 3:57PM