SNN115656 - Historic building recording at the Manor Houses east range, Desborough, Northamptonshire

MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology) was commissioned by Welland Design, on behalf of Snowdon Homes Ltd, to undertake a programme of historic building recording at the East Range of the Manor House, Gold Street. This was required prior to the proposed redevelopment of the site to the east of the manor house to create 36 dwellings with access, parking and associated works. The manor house lies outside of the site boundary, and as such does not form part of this project, but the attached east range is to be demolished as part of this scheme and is therefore the focus of this recording (Planning Ref. NK/2021/0659). Technical analysis of the building reveals little historic interest survives. It is formed of three parts, of which the northern part is entirely mid/late 20th century in date, the central part is constructed in the local Northampton Sand mudstone, as is the lower level of the southern section and therefore likely are contemporary with the adjacent Manor House. The southern section was raised in height in the 19th century and given a king-post roof structure. Other then the outer walls very little of historic interest survives, we can only speculate that the range’s original purpose related to the Manor House in some way; likely forming an outbuilding providing storage, stabling and other utilitarian functions.