Monument record 2882/2/1 - Collyweston House (medieval/post medieval manor house)

Collyweston House, known as The Palace, was built in the 15th century and demolished in 1640. A new house was built on the same site in the mid 17th century and subsequently demolished in 1778.

{1} The house is still shown as standing on Eyres map surveyed in the early C18th, but not published until 1779.

{2} The manor was sold soon after 1412 to Sir William Porter who is thought to have begun the building of Collyweston House. After his death the house and land was sold in 1441 to Ralph Lord Cromwell, who appears to have enlarged or rebuilt the house. Margaret Countess of Richmond, was granted the manor in 1486; she spent considerable time there and is said to have improved both house and grounds. In 1607 Camden recorded that the house was handsome and elegant, but by 1720 the house is said to have been entirely pulled down and the park disparked. The 'materials' from it were finally removed in 1780-82.
The house stood on the crest of the slope at the western edge of the village (SK99450287). No trace of the house remains other than a set of sell-marked scarps up to 1.5m high in an area largely landscaped in the late C19th.

{4} Sir William Porter is thought by Leland to have begun the house at Collyweston, continued by his more illustrious successors. In about 1441 the manor was sold to Humphrey Earl of Strafford, Ralph Lord Cromwell and many others. Ralph Lord Cromwell lived and died at Collyweston and did much towards the building of the beautiful house finished by Margaret Duchess of Richmond. She frequently resided at Collyweston and also did much for the improvement of the house and grounds. The manor passed to Anne Boleyn just before her execution, but in the latter part of his reign Henry VIII visited Collyweston several times, holding privy council there in 1541. Elizabeth also held privy council there in 1566. Before Bridges wrote in 1720 the house had been almost entirely pulled down and now only traces of the gardens and fishponds remain.

{5} The village has the appearance of having been replanned, perhaps in the C15th in conjunction with alterations to the former manor house which lay in the close immediately west of the High Street. The house was also known as The Palace, and was occupied in the C15th by Ralph Lord Cromwell and Lady Margaret Beaufort who remodelled it as well as the church. This house was demolished in 1640 and a new house built after 1650 when the manor had been purchased by Peter Tryon, whose family occupied it until it was demolished in 1778.
Following his purchase of the manor c.1415 Sir William Porter may have carried out building work at the manor house. After his death the manor was bought by Ralph Lord Cromwell who died there in 1455. Having changed hands several times the manor fell to the Crown in 1486 and was given to Lady Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond (the king's mother). In the years around 1500 she altered and enlarged the house, and also improved the adjoining park and gardens. When in 1631 the manor was sold to Sir Robert heath, his main intention was to dismantle it to sell the materials, which he did in 1640.In 1650 the property was sold to Moses Tryon of Harringworth and his son Peter. Peter's son inherited in 1660 and it remained with the family until 1800 when it passed to the Earl of Exeter. Peter or his son, built a new house on the site of the earlier one, although a few fragments of the earlier were still recognisable in 1776. In 1778 Tryon's house was dismantled and the materials sold off. In 1780 the Earl of Exeter paid to have the site levelled and turned into paddocks.

{6} The manor of Collyweston was bought in 1412 by William Cater, who reputedly began to build. In 1441 it was sold to Ralph, Lord Cromwell, who lived there and rebuilt the house, dying there in 1457. By the end of the C15 the house was Crown Property. Further owners were Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. In 1607 Camden recorded the house as handsome and elegant. By 1720 the house was demolished, and materials from the house removed by 1730.
Manor house, no visible remains; site enclosed by stone wall, landscaped in C19.

{7} Archaeological observation during the construction of a car port immediately to the north-east of 4 Hall Yard identified two masonry walls set at right angles (though not bonded). One was of a superior build quality than the other. A further probable wall was observd in the edge of the excavation area. No dating evidence was recovered, so they may either be associated with the 15th-century Royal Palace or the later manor house built by Peter Tryon or his son in the latter half of the 17th century.

<1> Eyre T. (Revised by Jefferys T.), 1779, Map of the County of Northamptonshire, (checked) (Map). SNN1852.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.30-31 Site 8 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<3> Leland J., 1543, Itinerary, IV 91-2 (unchecked) (Series). SNN13988.

<4> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.550-53 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100369.

<5> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1984, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.30-31 Site 2 (checked) (Series). SNN77384.

<6> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 1986, DOE Scheduled Ancient Monuments: Northamptonshire (Parts 5-8) (Schedule). SNN104787.

<7> Williams, S, Programme of Archaeological Observation, Investigation, Analysis and Publication of Works: 4 Hall Yard, Collyweston, Stamford, Northamptonshire, PE9 3PZ (Report). SNN115058.

<8> Crank, N. (Editor), 2023, South Midlands Archaeology (53), P. 64 (Journal). SNN116414.

Record last edited

Jun 24 2024 2:21PM