Building record 478/1/1 - The Dower House, Fawsley Park

Early 16th century hunting lodge situated in Fawlsey Park. The building was extended in the later 16th century to form a small H-plan house. The building is now ruinous. The Dower House is a excellent example of Tudor building. It was originally built in brick as a park lodge, with a tall, polygonal and battlemented tower dominating it’s west side. In the late 16th century it was extended by the addition of a stone central section and a cross-wing to form a small house of H-shaped plan. The alteration may have been carried out by Richard Knightley of Fawsley who is known to have entertained Queen Elizabeth I in AD 1575. A ha-ha was dug round the building to keep parkland animals away. Although the house was occupied until the end of the 18th century it is evident that it was gradually deteriorating and was already a ruin when drawn by Buckler in AD 1815. During the 19th century it was preserved as a ruinous parkland feature, various repairs and supporting piers date from this time. Fawsley Park was put to military use during both World Wars and on the inside face of the east entrance to the stone component of the ruin, written in pencil is the following graffiti "A PLATOON CAPTURED DOWER HOUSE 17th OCTOBER 1916". Reputed to be the oldest standing brick construction in Northamptonshire, The Dower House is Grade II Listed, and together with its earthwork enclosure, also a Scheduled Monument. It stands within the Grade II* Registered Fawsley Park.

{1} Archaeological recording was carried out during the course of repairs to the stair-turret at the C16th brick lodge in Fawsley Park. The work revealed details of the original construction together with evidence of flooring and subsequent restoration.

{2} Report from work carried out at the Dower House, Fawsley. Work included research on recent history of the building, survey of the current building and consideration of options for repair of monument. Its serious condition and accelerated deterioration is noted. Includes reproductions of architectural sketches made by H.Dryden {22}. Includes reproduction of Buckler's drawing of 1815 {21}.
The last occupant of the house was Dame Anne Knightley, who died in 1703. It was subsequently used as a keeper's or agent's house. Although the house was occupoed until the end of the C18th according to Sir Charles Knightley, it is evident that it was gradually deteriorating and was a ruin when drawn by Buckler in 1815. However C19th antiquarianism resulted in the repairs of the 1870s, Dryden's survey, and Fawsley's publication at the turn of the century as an ancient house; it is therefore important that this period of its history should be respected.
Report contains plans of the house made in order to identify schedule of repairs. These are also identified on a series of photographs.
The options for conversion to a modern dwelling are also presented, although the final recommendation of the report is that the Dower House should be stabilised as a ruin, repaired and its future secured by a proper level of regular maintenance.

{3} On the inside face of the east entrance to the [eastern] stone building of the ruin, in pencil is the following "A PLATOON CAPTURED DOWER HOUSE 17th OCTOBER 1916".

{4} The Dower House is a perfect example of Tudor building, it has at least been spared common place restoration. (Quoted from Inskip & Gee.) Fig.62 Elevation and Section of The Dower House, from drawings by W.Talbot Brown (copy within management file F001/1/4).

{5} The Dower House stands in the north part of Fawsley Park, in the bottom of a valley; the view is closely restricted except to the south. The house was built in the C16th as a lodge, in brick; shortly afterwards it was extended in stone to give what approximates to a conventional house arrangement. Presumably this marks a change in use, although the buildings has always been in the park. The last recorded occupant died in 1704 and although some attempt at rehabilitation seems to have been made at the west end, the building seems to have been a ruin since the C18th. During the C19th it was preserved as a ruin, and various repairs and brick supporting piers date from this time. A ha-ha was dug round the building to keep grazing animals out. During the C20th structural decay has accelerated. The report contains a detailed analysis of the building with elevations, plans, photographs and antiquarian drawings.

{8} The ruins of the so-called Dower House, Fawsley comprise the oldest standing brick construction in Northamptonshire, built initially in the C16th as a lodge. Soon afterwards it was enlarged by the addition of a stone central section and a crosswing to form a small house of H-shaped plan. The building seems to have become ruinous in the C18th. During the C20th its condition worsened and in 1990 remedial work involved consolidation of the tall, brick stair turret which dominates the west side of the original lodge. Modern underpinning to improve its stability necessitated the excavation of trenches at either side of the former foundations. The source contains detailed notes on the construction of stair turret and floor plan of the Dower House, showing location of trenches 1-4.

{10} A small house, already in ruins c1710, in the middle of the estate. Brick and ironstone. Brick the tower (with dark blue diapering) and what remains of the moulded and ornamented chimneyshafts. The windows again with arched lights. Also later straightforward millioned windows. The house seems to belong to the same time as the Hall, and may even be a little earlier, that is, it is the earliest example of brick in the county.

{11} Early C16th hunting lodge with watchtower, it was extended shortly afterwards to form a small H-shaped house. Constructed of ironstone ashlar and brick, it is identified by Pevsner as the earliest brick-built structure in Northamptonshire. It is situated in a park subsequently re-designed by Capability Brown in 1763.

{12} Dower house, originally hunting lodge. Early C16 and late C16. Ironstone ashlar and brick laid in irregular English bond, brick lateral and end stacks. H-plan. The house consists of two ranges, the earlier front range of brick with ironstone dressings and later back range, completing the H, of ironstone. The front range has a polygonal brick tower in the middle of the long side with first floor moulded brick and stone string with deep hollow moulding, and battlemented parapet. Diaper patterning to flared headers. Arch-mullion windows of 2, 3 and 4-lights. Ironstone quoins. Large ironstone projecting end stack to left with base of twisted brick flues. The stone range behind has similar arch-mullion windows and stack. Ruined by mid C18 and some C19 repair work. The earliest brick structure in the county (Pevsner). Now in a very poor state of repair and smothered with ivy. A Scheduled Ancient Monument.

{13} Dower house, originally hunting lodge. Early C16 and late C16. Ironstone ashlar and brick laid in irregular English bond, brick lateral and end stacks. H-plan. The house consists of two ranges, the earlier front range of brick with ironstone dressings and later back range, completing the H, of ironstone. The front range has a polygonal brick tower in the middle of the long side with first floor moulded brick and stone string with deep hollow moulding, and battlemented parapet. Diaper patterning to brickwork with flared headers. Arch-mullion windows of 2, 3 and 4-lights. Ironstone quoins. Large ironstone projecting end stack to left with base of twisted brick flues. The stone range behind has similar arch-mullion windows and stack. Ruined by mid C18 and some C19 repair work. The earliest brick structure in the county (Pevsner). Now in a very poor state of repair and smothered with ivy. A Scheduled Ancient Monument.

{14} Dower House. C16th construction details; watching brief by M.Audouy.

{15} The ruinous Dower House, a grade II Listed brick building and scheduled ancient monument, stands in a deer park. The Manor of Fawsley was bought in AD 1416 by Richard Knightly and held by his descendants until AD 1938. A deer park had been created in the area some time after AD 1331 and this was enlarged during the reign of Elizabeth in the second half of the C16th, the enlargement area being termed the “New Park”. The Dower House stands in this enlargement area.
The Dower House began life in the C16th as a brick lodge or stand, the use of brick marking it out as a fashionable up-to-date structure; it is reputedly the earliest brick-built structure in Northamptonshire. Later in the C16th the lodge was extended in stone. The owner responsible for the alteration may have been Richard Knightley who held the estate from AD 1566 to AD 1615. It is known that he entertained Queen Elizabeth here in AD 1575.
The last recorded inhabitant of the Dower House was Anne Devereux, who died there in AD 1703. Although some attempts at maintenance were made it appears to have been a ruin since the C18th. In the C19th further repairs were made but it appears to have been maintained specifically as a ruined building.
Sampling and analysis by tree-ring dating was commissioned by English Heritage. The purpose of this was to inform a programme of grant-aided repairs and consolidation. At the time of sampling (October 1998) the Dower House was scaffolded and partly covered with tarpaulins and boarding.
A total of 29 different oak timbers was sampled by coring. All took the form of either door or window lintels, bressumers over large openings, wall lacing timbers or remnants of wedges and blocks set deep within the walls. From the presence of empty peg holes and redundant mortices it is apparent that many of the timbers are reused in their present positions. The building is without a roof, this having decayed in the C18th, and without floor or ceiling beams.
The timbers had different felling dates. However it would appear that most was felled at slightly different dates in the third quarter of the C16th (possibly belonging to the alterations made by Richard Knightley in connection with the visit there of Queen Elizabeth in AD 1575). The only definite exceptions to this are the samples FAW-A02 and FAW-A12 felled earlier in the C16th, though at different dates (possibly representing the original early C16th construction) and samples FAW-A22 and FAW-A24, felled in AD 1895 (possibly part of the C19th restoration).

{16} Garden remains and pillow mound (?)(SP 570 578) around the Dower House, on the NE side of Fawsley Park in the bottom of a broad open valley, on Lias clay at 150 m. above OD. The Dower House is a small brick hunting lodge which was built in the early C16th and was extended soon afterwards to make a small house of H-plan. It is now in ruins,. Around it are some very slight earthworks, not all of which are explicable. The most obvious feature is a broad flat- topped terrace only 0.25m high which extends S from the SW corner of the house for some 30m. To the E fronting the house, are slighter banks and ditches. The whole group may be the remains of a small formal garden though this is not certain. To the N, at the back of the house, are other poorly defined earthworks including a rectangular flat-topped mound 7 m. by 4 m. overall, and less than 0.25m high orientated NW-SE of the type usually classified as pillow mounds. In 1741 (Map in NRO) the Dower House and another building to the NW of it, now demolished, are shown standing in a small rectangular enclosure, probably a garden.

{17} Photos taken in response to report that the metal bands surrounding the tower of the Dower House had been stolen.

{23} Archaeological recording was carried out during the course of repairs to the stair turret at the C16th brick lodge in Fawsley Park. The work revealed details of the original construction together with evidence of flooring and subsequent restoration.

{25} In 1741 the Dower House and another building to the north-west of it, now demolished, are shown standing in a small rectangular enclosure, probably a garden.

{27} Early Tudor brick house with stone dressings and twisted chimneys. Condition ruinous, but shell fairly intact. A site of exceptional charm, remotely set in parkland, but with some of its features near to collapse. It is of two periods. The west end is Tudor brick, the east end C17 ironstone. The building stands on a low platform faced with coursed stonework, and surrounded by a narrow ditch.

{28} The Dower House was built in the C16th as a lodge and is considered by Pevsner to be the earliest brick structure in the county. Shortly afterwards it was extended in stone to a conventional house arrangement. It has been a ruin since the C18th. During the C19th it was preserved as a ruin and various repairs date from this time. A ha-ha was dug around the building to keep grazing animals out. Ground levels within and around the ruin have risen at least 600mm after collapse of masonry, much of it during the C20th (eg. The north tower collapsed in 1987 with collapse of masonry on the west elevation between the stair tower and north-west corner occurring post-war).

{29} The Dower House (listed grade II) stands in a slight declivity in the eastern part of this area 1km north-east of the Hall. It was built in the C16 as a hunting lodge and is presumably the lodge referred to in a lease of 1619. It is a small, H-plan house in brick and ironstone, the former being used, with diaper decoration, in a polygonal tower attached to the earlier front range. This may represent the first example of the use of brick in the county.

{30} Former hunting lodge with watchtower of early C16, and extended soon afterwards to form a small H-plan Dower House. Of ironstone ashlar and brick, and identified by Pevsner as the earliest brick-built structure in Northamptonshire. There has been localised collapse of stonework to the north elevation and on-going structural concerns elsewhere. Repairs are being carried out under a Natural England stewardship scheme.

{31} Six undated photos;

{33} Summary of a 1619 Lease by Richard Knightly to a John Guill, mentioning the lodge, park, deer stock, rabbits and mangement of wood/timber. (NRO K634).

{34} As Authy 2. Please see photograph. Outstanding.

{35} No change to field report of 12.2.70.

{37} Drawings, measurements, sketches, notes;

<1> AUDOUY M., 1990, Fawsley Dower House, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN50310.

<2> Inskip P.; Gee S., 1996, The Dower House, Fawsley, Northamptonshire, (part checked) (Report). SNN46705.

<3> THORNE A.; PRENTICE J., 1998, Defence of Britain Project: Site Report Form, (checked) (Recording Form (Not SMR)). SNN51511.

<4> Garner; Stratton, 1908, Domestic Architecture of England During The Tudor Period (Part II), p.68 (unchecked) (Book). SNN57147.

<5> Ault S.; Richmond H.; Taylor R., 1978, Fawsley Dower House, (part checked) (Unpublished Report). SNN55122.

<6> Ault S.; Richmond H.; Taylor R., 1978, Dower House Ground Floor and First Floor Phasing Plans, (part checked) (Plan). SNN57146.

<7> VARIOUS, 1990, Correspondence Relating to Archaeological Recording in 1990, (unchecked) (Correspondence). SNN57149.

<8> Audouy M; Dix B., 1990, An Archaeological Watching Brief at The Dower House, Fawsley, Northamptonshire, Aug-Oct 1990, (part checked) (Report). SNN57594.

<9> VARIOUS, 1993, Correspondence Relating to Urgent Repairs Needed at the Dower House Following Collapse, (unchecked) (Correspondence). SNN57148.

<10> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.215-16 (checked) (Series). SNN1320.

<11> 1998, Buildings At Risk Survey, p.42 (checked) (Report). SNN43352.

<12> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 5/85 (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<13> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F05 p.40 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN44900.

<14> Dix B., 1992, Recent Work in Northamptonshire Archaeology, p.119 (checked) (Article). SNN104441.

<15> Howard R.E.; Laxton R.R.; Litton C.D., 1999, Tree-Ring Analysis Of Timbers From The Dower House, Fawsley Park, Fawsley, Nr Daventry, (checked) (Report). SNN105702.

<16> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.90 Site 3 (checked) (Series). SNN77381.

<17> Allen T., 2009, Fawsley Dower House, (unchecked) (Photographic prints (COL)). SNN106894.

<18> Ordnance Survey, 1812, First Edition Ordnance Survey Surveyors Drawings (Sheet 228), (unchecked) (Map). SNN105835.

<19> BUCKLER, 1815, Old Building in Fawsley Park Called The Keeper's Lodge, (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN76773.

<20> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection (Northamptonshire Record Office), Notebooks 1869 & 1878 (unchecked) (Archive). SNN56829.

<21> 1908, Country Life (04/07/1908), (unchecked) (Journal). SNN9100.

<22> TIPPING H.A., 1924, English Homes: Period II, Early Tudor, 1485-1558, (unchecked) (Series). SNN109290.

<23> Pike A. (Editor), 1991, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (21), p.60 (checked) (Newsletter). SNN2091.

<24> Megeary M., 1992, The Dower House, (unchecked) (Photographs). SNN109289.

<25> 1741, Map of Fawsley, (unchecked) (Map). SNN8611.

<26> Historic England, National Buildings Record, AA47/2114 (Archive). SNN109319.

<27> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 1986, DOE Scheduled Ancient Monuments: Northamptonshire (Parts 5-8), (unchecked) (Schedule). SNN104787.

<28> Cadman G., 1996, The Dower House, Fawsley, Scheduled Monument NN66, (checked) (Recording Action Brief). SNN109318.

<29> Stamper P., 1998, Fawsley Hall GD2035 (Register of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England), (part checked) (Report). SNN107104.

<30> Historic England, 2016, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2016, p. 48 (Report). SNN110747.

<31> Photographs of buildings in Fawsley (Photographs). SNN111722.

<32> Knightley R., 1619, Fawsley Park Lease (NRO K634), (unchecked) (Document). SNN109291.

<33> FOARD G., Undated, Supplementary File, (part checked) (Notes). SNN51725.

<34> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, 12/Feb (Notes). SNN110341.

<35> Allanson, C D, 1976, Field Investigator's Comments, 29/Oct (Notes). SNN112955.

<36> Allen T., 2009, Fawsley Dower House, BF094108 (Photographic prints (COL)). SNN106894.

<37> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/111/118-160 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Sep 4 2024 12:07PM