Description

BOMERE HEATH C.P. FITZ
SJ 41 NW
5/84 Fitz Manor
-
GV II*

House. Circa 1450, enlarged in the C16. Remodelled, probably in the
early C18, further remodelled in the late C19, and extended in the early
C20. Timber framed on dressed red sandstone plinth, with plastered and
painted brick infill, partly faced with planted timbers and plastered
infill, and partly refaced or rebuilt in painted brick to rear. Plain
tile roof, hipped to left. Framing: close studding with straight tension
braces. E-plan; C15 three-bay former open hall range with probably later
3-bay cross wings. Two storeys and attic with 2-storey addition. North-
west (entrance) front: 3 brick stacks just in front of ridge, to centre
and to left and right, and brick lateral stack to central rear wing.
1-:4- window front, with hipped projection to left; C18 boxed glazing
bar sashes to first floor except for 2-light casement to right; 2-and
3- light ground-floor wooden casements with probably C20 flat-roofed canted
bay off-centre to left. Doorway between second and third windows from
left; early C18 oak door with 8 raised and fielded panels, old lock,
moulded architrave, and partly C17 timber framed porch, altered probably
in the late C19 with Tudor archway, planted timbers and hipped roof;
side benches inside. Set back C19 addition to right with first-floor
2-light casement and ground-floor 4-light casement. Rear: 3 gabled
wings with C19 ornamental barge boards. C16 truss in central gable
with closely-spaced studs, 2 collars and V-struts. Early C19 infill
block in right-hand angle with first-floor glazing bar sash. C19 lean-
to in left-hand angle. Left-hand gable remodelled in the late C19 or
early C20 with full-height flat-roofed bay. Large early C20 addition
to south-west. Interior: substantial remains of C15 and later timber
framing and good C17 and C18 fixtures and fittings. Central 3-bay hall
range with cross passage (widened) off-centre to left. Cross passage
with 2 segmental arches to right; chamfered beams and joists with broach
stops; dado panelling. Left-hand ground-floor room with 2 chamfered
beams, C18 moulded cornice and C18 fireplace with moulded surround and
cupboard to right with 3 raised and fielded panels. Right-hand ground-
floor front room: reordered C17 panelling with fluted frieze, C17 fireplace
with fluted Ionic pilasters, carved brackets and panels with carved lozenges,
and wall cupboard with chamfered ogee arch, doors with raised and fielded
panels, and shaped shelves. Staircase hall to rear: C18 segmental-
arched corner buffet with shelves, frieze and cornice. Fine early C18
staircase of one swept shallow U-plan flight with tapered treads, closed
string, turned balusters, turned newel posts, moulded handrail and reordered
C17 dado panelling; first-floor balustrade with ramped handrail. The
staircase is very similar to one at Bicton Grove Farmhouse (q.v.), Bicton
C.P., and both were probably made by the same joiner,in a form unusual
for their date. Old oak newel stair to left, rising to attic, with old
panelled cupboard on lower flight. Central bedroom with C17 dado panelling,
C17 fireplace, and C18 doors with 2 raised and fielded panels and L-hinges.
Left-hand bedroom with blocked fireplace. C15 three-bay roof with collar
and tie-beam trusses (one truss with raking struts from collar), chamfered
single purlins, and curved wind braces. Much smoke blackening. Eaves raised in C18.
Left-hand cross wing: former kitchen in ground-floor front room: chamfered
cross-beamed ceiling with chamfered joists. Open fireplace with chamfered
lintel. First-floor room: chamfered jowl post and chamfered joists; C18
fireplace with moulded surround and cupboard door to left with 2 raised and
fielded panels. 3-bay cross-wing roof, rebuilt in C18; rear gable with
close studding, and collar and tie-beam truss. Right-hand cross wing.
Ground-floor rear room: early C18 raised and fielded panelling with moulded
dado rail and cornice, and doors with 6 raised and fielded panels. First-
floor rear room: early C18 painted raised and fielded panelling with moulded
dado rail and cornice, and staff-moulded fireplace consisting of sides and
lintel with raised and fielded panels and key, and cupboards in sides of
chimney breast. The left-hand bedroom in the hall range also contains
some reused medieval tiles in the fireplace. Despite the later alterations
this house is of great interest, including a medieval core and some fine C17
and early C18 fixtures and fittings, notably the staircase.

Listing NGR: SJ4492617854

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Fitz Manor at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q5455558

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)