Description

SP 01 NW DOWDESWELL UPPER DOWDESWELL VILLAGE

5/43 The Manor House/Dowdeswell Place
(formerly listed as Manor House and
23.1.52 outbuildings)
GV II*

Former manor house now in three occupations. Late C16 - early C17,
(probably built by the Abbington family), mid C17, late C19, early
C20 and late C20. Coursed squared and dressed limestone, stone
slate roof, squared and dressed stone stacks. Formerly a
quadrangle, now 'H'-shaped in plan with wings projecting forwards
right and left of central projecting porch. Small late C19-early
C20 wing projecting at right-angles from left-hand wall, left of
blocked doorway. Right-hand wing substantially rebuilt at rear
mid-late C19 with C20 1½ storey Cotswold style extension on to
gable end. Symmetrical facade to main body with gabled wings
projecting forwards left and right. Two storeys attic and cellar.
1:3:1-windowed. Ground floor of left-hand gable-end lit by 6-light
ovolo-moulded stone-mullioned window, similar 6-light window with
transom above. King mullions to both windows. Two-light ovolo-
moulded stone-mullioned windows to attic. Dripmoulds over all
windows. Hood mould stepped up over first floor window of left-
hand wing. Metal casements with leaded panes or horizontal glazing
bars. Central gabled projecting porch with studded plank door
within moulded surround with bag stops, Baroque cartouche of the
Rich family arms over, formerly over doorway within porch.
Moulded surround to door within, bull-eye window with carved
spandrels over. Large projecting stack from rear wall of central
hall and axial stacks all with moulded cappings. Saddleback
gable-end coping with pointed finials and moulded kneelers.
Interior: hall entered from porch with large almost flat 'Tudor'-
arched fireplace with moulded surround. High, 'Tudor'-arched
moulded stone archway from hall to east wing which contains a fine
open-well staircase of c.1700 with turned balusters, ball finial
and pendants. Debased blind arched decoration on newels. C17
panelling in room at rear of left-hand wing with 'Tudor'-arched
stone fireplace with moulded stone surround and ornate cornice
shelf with stepped mouldings. C17 panelling in an upstairs room.
Late C17 stone fireplace with bolection moulding in same room.
History: the house passed from the Abbington family to the Rich
family mid C17 and was subsequently bought by a London merchant
named van Notton and thence the Pole family. (Dowdeswell Manor,
Gloucestershire Countryside (1955-8) P.lll-2. Print in Atkyn's
History of Gloucestershire c1710.)

Listing NGR: SP0051919169

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17536152

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

• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)