Monument record 667/1/1 - Blakesley Hall

Site of the manor house of St John of Jerusalem, the Knights Hospitallers which had been established by 1207 later the building was incorporated into a country house known as Blakesley Hall. The north gable end and an upper and lower window in the north wall of the main block were thought to be part of the hospitallers building. The hall was demolished in 1957-8. A field visit to the site in 1970 by Ordnance Survey field staff recorded that the building had been completely cleared leaving only remains of its formal garden. There had been some speculation that the site had been moated but this appears doubtful as the survey recorded remains of an ornamental watercourse. The watercourse has also been identified as containing Pulhamite rockwork. Also known as St John Of Jerusalem Manor House

{1} The Manor was founded in 1216. Between 1721 and 1876 it was owned by the Wight family who extensively restored the ancient edifice of the main house. In 1876 it was bought by Charles Bartholomew for his son Charles William Bartholomew and became known as Blakesley Hall. The latter built the village reading room and also provided residents with a piped water supply. He also enlarged the school and presented the old girls school to the village for use as a village hall. In addition he rebuilt the chancel of the village church and added a new organ chamber.

{2} Demolished 1957-8.

{4} The hall, demolished in 1957-8, was traditionally said to be on the site of the manor house of the Knights Hospitallers, who acquired land in Blakesley in about 1194.

{5} Blakesley Hall occupies the site of the manor house of St John of Jerusalem, the Knights Hospitallers being established at Blakesley by 1207. The north gable end and an upper and lower window in the north wall of the main block are apparently part of the hospital building (sic). The house was nearly rebuilt by the
Wights. A ruin called the tower near the hall was originally a summerhouse.

{6} Victorian views of the house with elaborate garden furniture including statues and fountains. C.W.Bartholomew added an extension to the west wing to accommodate his museum and library. The house was used as convalescent home for wounded soldiers during WWI. The hall was demolished in 1957.

{10} The site of the hall has been completely cleared leaving only the remains of its formal garden. It is doubtful whether the 'moat' ever was such a feature, certainly now it is nothing more than an ornamental watercourse, fed from the west by a diverted stream and terminating in a series of waterfalls to the east. The tower stood at SP 6205 5009, now only its mound with a heap of brick and stone debris survive.

<1> Blakesley Hall & C.W.Bartholomew, (checked) (Report). SNN43702.

<2> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.100 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP64NW8 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.173/Site 3 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77382.

<5> DRYDEN H., 1886, Account of The Parish of Blakesley, p.13-14 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN47527.

<6> Blakesley Hall & C.W.Bartholomew, (checked) (Report). SNN43702.

<7> Ordnance Survey, 1955, OS 6 Inch Map Series, (unchecked) (Map). SNN59836.

<8> Hitching, C., 2012, Rock Landscapes: The Pulham Legacy, Chapter 23 (Book). SNN110609.

<9> Hitching, C., The Pulham Legacy: Pulham sites in the Midlands (Website). SNN114229.

<10> Seaman, B H, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 BHS 13-FEB-70 (Notes). SNN111541.

Record last edited

Oct 19 2022 4:04PM