Monument record 186/2 - Astrop Grange

Probable former farmhouse, later remodelled and gentrified. Building survey indicates that it may have dated to the late 16th-early 17th century. Converted into a residential care home in the latter half of the 20th century. A fireback depicting Charles II defeating Cromwell was identified. Now demolished

{1} Identified by South Northamptonshire Council as being a building of historic and/or architectural significance.

{2} Building recording survey of former care home prior to demolition. The earliest building was a two-storey double pile vernacular house, built of coursed limestone. The building had been remodelled on a number of occasions; the first major change is marked by the creation of usable living space in the attics of both piles, by raising the east and west elevations of the house and adjusting the pitch of the roof and the associated gentrification of the building, probably in the 19th century. The most recent changes have been associated with the conversion of the building for use as a residential care home in the latter half of the 20th century and the creation of seven self-contained flats and warden's accommodation. Door furniture in the basement dated to the 18th century. Floorboards in the main block were also early. The southern block of the Warden's bungalow, to the east of the main block could also be contemporary, but may have started as a single-storey bakehouse.
The late 19th century alterations involved the construction of an extension to the north and a link between the probable former bakehouse and main block.

{3} A watching brief undertaken during demolition of the building enabled more detailed analysis of the roof structure, which included both in-line butt purlins and butt rafters, likely to define a date range between 1565 and 1640. A fireback was found in the blocked fireplace of one of the principal, front-facing ground floor rooms. It depicted Charles II defeating Cromwell, including intertwined Cs that commemorate the marriage between Charles and Catherine of Braganza, which is likely to date to the period 1662 to 1685.

{5} Reasons for currently not Listing the Building
CONTEXT
Historic England has been asked to assess Astrop Grange for listing. There is a live planning application to demolish the building and replace it with ten flats. Astrop Grange is located in Kings Sutton Conservation Area and is regarded by the local authority as a non-designated heritage asset.
HISTORY AND DETAILS
Astrop Grange was built in the mid/late C18. The first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1884 shows the building had an approximately square plan. By the time of the second edition OS map in 1900 a large extension had been added on the north end, almost doubling its footprint. A small extension was also built on the south-east corner in order to link the house with an adjacent cottage.
Astrop Grange is constructed of coursed limestone and has a slate-clad roof. The original three-storey C18 house has a double pile plan with shallow pitched roofs and rebuilt brick chimney stacks at the gable ends. The symmetrical, five-bay façade has a central entrance door under a plain classical porch. This is flanked by two long windows either side. The windows, which decrease in size on the upper floors, have all been replaced in uPVC. The south side of the rear (east) pile has a flight of splayed steps leading up to a doorway which has an architrave with a carved frieze and moulded segmental arch pediment. The late C19 two-storey gault brick extension has an irregular façade lit by uPVC windows, and is dominated by a canted oriel window on the left.
Internally, the principal oak staircase remains, as do some of the panelled window jambs and floorboards. The roof is also thought to be original. It is not known if any other historic fixtures, fittings or joinery survive.
DISCUSSION
The Historic England Selection Guide for listing Suburban and Country Houses (October 2011) states that suburban houses survive in such large numbers that they will need to be carefully assessed for listing against the normal selection criteria: age and rarity, intactness, quality of design, materials, craftsmanship, and historic associations. Houses surviving from 1700-1840 without substantial alteration will probably warrant listing, although some discretion may be necessary for later, more standard designs.

On the basis of the evidence to hand, Astrop Grange is not recommended for listing for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest: the principal elevation is typical for its period, and does not display unusually fine craftsmanship or significant architectural quality;

Interior: the quality and intactness of the interior is largely unknown, although based on the typical design of the façade, any surviving decorative features or fixtures are likely to be of a similar standard;

Alterations: the extensions and uPVC windows have affected the historic character of the house.

CONCLUSION
Whilst Astrop Grange is a good example of a substantial Georgian house in a local context, it does not reach the high bar set for listing buildings of this type in a national context.

<1> SOUTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNCIL, 2012, South Northamptonshire Council Survey of Significant Historic Buildings, (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN108984.

<2> Hillelson, D. & Ashworth, H., 2016, Astrop Grange, Kings Sutton, Northamptonshire: Historic Building Record (Report). SNN111301.

<3> Hillelson, D. & Ashworth, H., 2016, Astrop Grange, Kings Sutton, Northamptonshire: Addendum to report 985 (Report). SNN111303.

<4> Crank, N. (Editor), 2017, South Midlands Archaeology (47), p. 36 (Journal). SNN111362.

<5> English Heritage, Designation Advice Report, Astrop Grange (Report). SNN113190.

Record last edited

Apr 1 2022 1:36PM