Description

ST66NW WHITCHURCH STAUNTON LANE
(North side)

240- /2/10012 Manor Farmhouse

GV II

Detached house, former farmhouse. Mid C17, altered early C19. Lias rubble, rendered and scribed with ashlar joints, some whitewashed rubble; roofs various concrete tile. PLAN: One bay only of the early building remains, and the later, principal range is a symmetrical central hall plan with early C19 projecting rear open-well staircase and rear transverse corridor. To left rear of main range a contemporary service wing, much restructured in late C20. A separated block, not of special interest, lies behind the early wing, separated from it but joined by a wall with entrance gateway. EXTERIOR: Two storeys, 3+1 windows, replacement aluminium pseudo-sash in full-height recessed panels to flat elliptical heads; in the early range replacement stone ovolo-mould casements with drip-moulds, the detail carefully matched to original but removed casements. Central 6-panel door under fine decorative fanlight in painted limestone pilaster doorcase with flat entablature, rosettes, panelled soffit, and stepped blocking-course; large single sandstone slab landing at entrance. Slight plinth, moulded parapet, plain raised and coped gables with stack to each end, similar to lower C17 wing. Return left is plain, but lower service wing has two 2-light late C20 wood casements at each floor. Right return has small 2-light casement to first floor. The rear has staircase projection with separate hipped roof and plain outer wall, but with large 12-pane plus radial fanlight staircase window above a large plain oculus on its left return, with fine original large 12-pane sash to the left. The early range has a replacement wood casement at each level, and a part-glazed plank door. The service wing, to the right, has a C20 wood casement at each level, and a wide early C19 plank and batten door; the outer gable with central stack. INTERIOR: the early wing has been mainly restructured, but retains one deep-chamfered and stopped contemporary beam, and remains of a moulded mantel-shelf to the fireplace. In the main range there is a further deep-chamfered beam, reused and raised to the new ceiling height in the C19 work. The central hall has an open-well stair to the rear, with stick balusters and swept and wreathed mahogany handrail; there are 2 contemporary fireplaces with wide reeded surrounds with rosettes, and cast-iron grates. At both levels are 6-panel doors in reeded architraves with rosettes, and all windows have original panelled shutters; the doorway and stair window also have panelled intrados, and ground floor rooms and upper landing have simple plaster cornices. The rear kitchen has a rebuilt bressumer fireplace, but to its left is a bread oven with cast-iron door set deep to a fine cut stone surround.

HISTORICAL DETAIL: the farm is reputed to have a very long history, but is separated from its former land and buildings. It is suggested that there may have been an entrance under the staircase, where the oculus is now located. The stock-yard with surrounding buildings, mainly of lias with tile roofs, encloses a rough triangle to the right (east) of the farmhouse, and the farm land lay mostly to the north.

Listing NGR: ST6169967499

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26422490

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

• 
  County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)
• 
  The Shredded Chef: 120 Recipes for Building Muscle, Getting Lean, and Staying Healthy
• 
  Period property manual, victorian house manual 2 books collection set by ian rock
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)