The Manor House

The Manor House is a manor house with a probable late medieval core, significantly altered and extended around the 1870s. It is located within a double-moated enclosure and was the residence of the Surtees family from the early 12th century until the 19th century.

The original core is of rubble construction, with applied timbering on the south face and east gable end. Later additions on the north are built in large red bricks in a stretcher bond. The main block has fish-scale clay tiles, a rubble porch, stone flags, and lean-to additions with Welsh slates. Ornamental brick chimney stacks are present. The main block incorporates a 17th-century west bay, a circa 1876 east bay, and two cross-gabled wings added around 1876, linked by a single-storey range on the north side. A former porch is located on the west return of the west wing.

The two-storey main block has walls approximately 1.0 to 1.5 metres thick, with added east and west bays, and applied timbering with pebble-dashed brick infill panels. Scattered single- and two-light windows, mostly replaced casements with splayed rear arches, are set in each floor. The steeply-pitched roof has a 20th-century dormer at the east end and raised verges with stone kneelers at the west end, topped with crested ridge tiles. Two ridge stacks are present, the east one marking the original gable end. Three single-storey lean-to additions extend from the east gable end. Two two-light, chamfered-mullioned windows are visible on the west gable end. The north front features two cross-gabled, two-storey wings with steeply pitched roofs, the east wing being taller and containing an attic. A single-storey range between the wings has a studded door and a low-pitched pent roof. Primarily two- and three-light, late 19th-century wood-mullioned windows with iron casements are present. The former porch has a possible re-set, hollow-chamfered semicircular archway with an inserted 19th-century two-light window. Tall lateral chimneys rise to octagonal ornamental stacks.

The interior was largely altered around 1876. A bolection-moulded stone chimney-piece was imported against the east gable end, featuring a relief of two scaly fishes on the frieze. Several ground-floor rooms have chamfered ceiling beams. Woodwork brought from Bristol Cathedral includes medieval choir stalls, panelling dated 1689 and 1733, a section of a Baroque organ case in the entrance hall, and 18th-century box pews used as dadoes. Possible late medieval heraldic stained glass is located in a room behind the porch.