Building record 264/3/1 - Sulgrave Manor

[The Manor House and attached brewhouse] A manor house built circa 1540-60 by Lawrence Washington. The house was altered circa 1700 and by the late 18th century had become a farmhouse, part of the original house had been demolished by this time. Circa 1920-30 the left half of the house was rebuilt during the restoration of the building by Sir Reginald Blomfield. The house was original H-shaped in plan, but is now L-shaped. Built of coursed limestone rubble with a rendered porch and stone slate roofs. It was the family seat of George Washington.

{1}Sulgrave manor is commonly believed to have been erected by Lawrence Washington.This interpretation assmumes that the date on the Royal Arms on the porch is comtemporary with both the porch & the building. B.L. Giggins assesses this presumption by a detailed building survey. He concludes that the ground floor ceiling timbers, screens passage, roof truss, fier places & timber framed first floor are all contemporary. However the architectural detail appears to be more typical of the late 15th than the mid 16th century with greater emphasis on gothic as opposed to Renaissance style. Did Washington's builder continue an earlier architectural style or was he upgrading a late medieval grange building? The evidence is inconclusive. For further details & a breakdown of dates see report.

{2}Geophysical survey around Sulgrave Manor to test for evidence of former structures around the building.Evidence for demolished wing of the house,but no indication of 19th century outbuildings which were expected on the site.,

{3}The house of which the Great Hall and screens & three upper rooms still survive, was completed circa 1560. Additions were made, but before 1700 parts of the enlarged house had been destroyed. The north wing was added circa 1700, although by 1780 other parts of the house had been demolished, and it was used as a common farmhouse until 1840. In 1914 the manor was purchased by public subscription, for the sum of #8,400. Restoration work was entrusted to Sir Reginald Blomfield who added a west wing in 1929. The house was opened to the public on 21st June 1921.Large scale plans of house in "oversize parish" drawers.

{4} Manor house. Built c.1540-60 by Lawrence Washington, who acquired the Manor in 1539. c.1673 it passed to the Rev. Moses Hodges, whose son John made alterations to the house c.1700 and added the north-east wing. By the late C18 the house had become a farm and part was demolished. Of the centre, only the right half with the porch is original. The left half was rebuilt by Sir Reginald Blomfield who restored the house in 1920-30. Coursed limestone rubble, rendered porch, stone slate roof, brick and stone stacks. L-plan, through passage. 2 storeys and attic, 3 bays. Gabled 2-storey porch in centre has entrance with 4-centred arch under square hood with Washington arms in the spandrels. Washington coat of arms in plaster above, 3-light window with wood lintel and old iron casement on first floor. Plaster coat of arms of Queen Elizabeth I in the gable and a triangular device in plaster, said to be the wool stapler's symbol, at the apex. Inner doorway has 4-centred wood arch and C20 panelled door. 4-light wood mullioned and transomed windows with wood lintels on the ground floor. 4-light wood mullioned windows with wood lintels on the first floor. Coped left gable end with kneelers. Former brewhouse, now offices, attached to house by short stone wall to north. Probably c.1700, remodelled C20 by Sir Reginald Blomfield. Coursed limestone rubble, stone slate roof, one storey and loft. 4 bays. 2 doorways with wood lintels in plank doors to left, two C20 windows with wood mullion to right. Interior: Side walls of porch have large C16 plaster figures of a lion and dragon. Great Hall has screen designed by Blomfield and original open fireplace with moulded timber 4-centred arch and stone jambs. Ceiling with moulded cross beams forming 24 square panels. The windows contain reproductions of stained glass arms of the Washington family. The originals are in Fawsley Church and Weston Hall. Oak Parlour on the ground floor has early C18 fireplace with moulded stone surround and panelled walls and overmantel of the same date. In the kitchen is a large open fireplace with ovens. Late C17 staircase with twisted balusters. The Great Chamber, on the first floor, has a fireplace similar to that in the hall and an open timber roof of 2-bays with central cambered collar beam and central moulded pendant, and arched braces carved on moulded wood corbel. Interior of former brew- house not inspected. Lawrence Washington was a wool merchant and became mayor of Northampton in 1532. In 1610 Sulgrave Manor was purchased by his grandson, Lawrence Makepeace. It was sold in 1659 and had no further connection with the Washington family. In 1914 it was purchased as a memorial to George Washington. (H. Clifford Smith, Sulgrave Manor and the Washingtons, London 1933).

{8} Undated photo;

{10}Originally a monastic building belonging to the Priory of St Andrew at Northampton the manor was sold by the Crown in 1539, at the dissolution of the minor monastic houses for the sum of #324.14.10d.

{11} Sulgrave Manor is the family seat of George Washington. The 'Manor House' was bought by Lawrence Washington, Mayor of Northampton, in 1540, and sold out of the Washington family in 1659. (Buildings of Eng Northamptonshire, 1961, 417 (Pevsner)). It is now open to the public, is endowed by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America and administered by a board of trustees. See photographs. Outstanding.

{12} No change since report of 14 4 70.

{15} Notes, drawings, plans, measurements and sketches of the manor and the arms within;

<1> Giggins, B., 1996, Sulgrave Manor - how old?, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN47099.

<2> Bartlett, A.D.H., 1997, Sulgrave Manor, Northamptonshire: Report on archaeogeophysical survey, (unchecked) (Report). SNN72915.

<3> RYAN M.J., 1964, Sulgrave Manor, (unchecked) (Photographic prints (B&W)). SNN41151.

<4> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 4/184 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<5> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F03 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<6> Jenkins S., 2003, England's Thousand Best Houses, p.552 (unchecked) (Extract). SNN104722.

<7> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.421 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<8> Photographs of buildings in Sulgrave (Photographs). SNN113448.

<9> RYAN M.J., 1964, Sulgrave Manor, (unchecked) (Photographic prints (B&W)). SNN41151.

<10> Mowl T.; Hickman C., 2008, The Historic Gardens of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN106082.

<11> Colquhoun, FD, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 FDC 14-APR-70 (Notes). SNN111540.

<12> Tittensor, A J, 1976, Field Investigator's Comments, F2 AJT 18-OCT-76 (Notes). SNN113157.

<13> Historic England, Undated, Burton Dassett, 1231165 (Archive). SNN114561.

<14> Historic England, Undated, Sulgrave Manor, BF096162 (Archive). SNN114560.

<15> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/257/2,7,18,42-47,49,50-56 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Dec 16 2024 9:58AM