Description

ST 78 SE LITTLE SODBURY

8/94 Little Sodbury Manor
17.9.52
G.V. I

Manor house. Early C15 for the Stanshaw family; altered and extended late C15/
early C16 for John Walsh and early - mid C17 for Henry and Edward Stephens;
partly restored early C18 after a storm and extensively restored c.1913-1920 by
Sir Harold Brakspear for Lord Grosvenor and Baron de Tuyll. Rendered rubble
with freestone dressings and quoins; Cotswold stone slate roofs with coped
raised verges on kneelers; ashlar square and diagonal stacks. Asymmetrical and
irregular Tudor manor house aligned north - south: in the centre the C15 hall
with its cross passage and porch at the south end; to the south east is the C15/
C16 kitchen and to the south west an early C16 wing, beyond and between are later
extensions; to the north and north west of the hall is the former solar wing,
remodelled in the C17 and C20 centuries, but possibly incorporating C16 work.
Hall and porch: 2 storeys; two restored 2-light windows with 4-centred heads
and under-linked hood moulds; 2 storey gabled projecting porch with diagonal
buttresses, a moulded 4-centred doorway and a 2-light casement window with
cinquefoil heads above. Extending from the porch is an early C16 wing of
2 storeys and 5 bays with a further bay in a cross wing at the south end:
mixture of 2- and 3-light casement windows some with plain mullions and in
architraves and some with ovolo moulded mullions and under dripmoulds; central
1-2-1-light oriel window with a pierced parapet and a moulded cill; 4 centred
heads to the oriel lights and to the first floor windows to the right, cusping to
window in cross wing. Behind the north end of the south wing can be seen the
pyramidal roof of the stair tower. Single storey and attic service and office
wing extends further south. Projecting to the north west of the hall is a
2 storey,5 bay early Cl7 wing: 2-light cross and casement windows with ovolo
moulded mullions and under continuous dripmould to right. Projecting beyond and
setback is rear of north front: paired multi-pane sash windows. North (entrance
elevation is part of C15/C16 house, extensively remodelled and consisting of
2 storeys and attics in 3 gables which are surmounted by stacks: 7 windows on
ground and 6 on frist floor, 2- and 3-light cross and casement windows, both in
plain architraves and with ovolo moulded mullions and surrounds. Central
panelled door flanked by tall single lights. Interior. Hall: 4 bay arch-
braced collar beam roof supported on carved corbels, with 4 tiers of carved
windbraces; restored 4-centred fireplace with carved spandrels; at south end
are timber framed screens with traceried heads, C15 to left, restored to right,
above an internal jetty supports a timber framed screen; at the upper (north)
end are 2 restored arches of east and west oriels, panelled soffit to east and
grotesque mask of squint over. Parlour/sitting room; restored, framed ceiling
with classical motifs in plaster; Gothic style fireplace. Entrance hall and
drawing room: C18 panelling, drawing room restored. Staircase: c.1635 dog-leg
stair with turned balusters and pendants, arcaded approach of Corinthian columns
on newel posts; two 4-centred doorways with enriched spandrels, plank studded
doors. Dining room: early C17 panelling, reassembled from other parts of the
house, figure carving in the upper parts. Oriel room: early C17 ashlar
fireplace with initials of Edward Stephens and his wife (ESA), 4-centred head and
carved frieze. Porch room: early C17 panelling, fireplace with 4-centred head
and Henry Stephens' initials. Passage room: C17 panelling and fireplace with
4-centred head. (Country Life, 7.X.22. Verey D, The Buildings of England :
Gloucestershire, the Cotswolds, 1970).

Listing NGR: ST7598082897

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Little Sodbury Manor at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q17530277

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

• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)