Monument record 1396/2 - Pytchley Hall/Manor

Site of manor house built circa 1580-1590 by Eusebius Isham and demolished in 1829. Fragmentary earthworks remain including a hollow way running south east, a rectangular earthwork south west of the hollow way which may be the remains of a courtyard or garden and pond earthworks in the north west of the site which may originally have been an ornamental feature of the 16th century garden.

{1} SP 860 747: Pytchley Hall manor house (site of). Built on the site of an older manor house circa 1580-1590 by Sir Euseley Isham and demolished in 1829. Fragmentary earthworks remain, damaged by later development. A hollow way running south east cuts the remains in two and is perhaps the road described as passing over the site in the late 19th century. All the existing earthworks are in poor condition and difficult to interpret. A rectangular earthwork south west of the hollow way may be the remains of a courtyard or garden. Pond earthworks in the north west of the site may originally have been an ornamental feature of the 16th century garden. The area was known as Hall Court Garden and Dovehouse Close in 1842. RCHM plan.

{5} Manorial history given, though it is not clear which manor was which.

{6} In the first half of the C16th the Ishams gradually acquired all three manors in Pytchley. Eusebius Isham inherited the estate in 1559 and built a new house. It was built shortly after 1571 when he came of age. On his death it passed to the Lanes of Glendon, who sold it to William Washbourne at the end of the C17th. It was later acquired by the Knightleys of Fawsley. After several further changes in ownership it was purchased by George Payne of Sulby in 1828, and demolished shortly afterwards, although substantial fragments were preserved and reset at other houses (Glendon, Lamport, Overstone, Isham, Sulby). A large symmetrical house of H-shaped plan, it was approached through an entrance arch into a courtyard, and entered by a central porch. The architectural style was typical of the county at this time. More details given, plus early C19th engraving of the house with The Pytchley Hunt.

{7} The area was known as Hall Court Garden in 1842.

{Unknown source} Photograph of the sunken garden of Pytchley House.

Historic England, Undated, PYTCHLEY HALL, PYTCHLEY, BF061888 (Archive). SNN115529.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.125/Site 9 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77380.

<2> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<3> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN77328.

<4> GOTCH J.A., 1888, Pytchley Manor House, p.9-10 (unchecked) (Article). SNN105581.

<5> Salzman L.F.(ed), 1937, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.208-11 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100371.

<6> Heward J.; Taylor R., 1996, The Country Houses of Northamptonshire, p.288-9 (part checked) (Book). SNN41757.

<7> 1842, Pytchley Tithe Map (Map). SNN31396.

<8> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.381 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<9> 1886, Northamptonshire Notes and Queries (Series 1), (unchecked) (Series). SNN31386.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 8:02PM