The Manor House

The Manor House

A country house of complex development, incorporating the 13th-century south range of Brinkburn Priory's conventual buildings. This range was converted into a residence for the Fenwick family in the later 16th century, then remodelled in 1810 for Richard Hodgson. Substantial alterations and major extensions were carried out between 1830 and 1837 by architect John Dobson for William Hodgson Cadogan. The building is constructed of squared stone with cut dressings and Welsh slate roofs.

The plan is irregular. The surviving 1810 house forms an L-plan wing at the east end, adjoined to the west by the Dobson section, which comprises a grouping of three square or rectangular towers with further outbuildings arranged around an irregular quadrangle. The 1810 work is in Gothick style, while the 1830-37 additions are castellated neo-Tudor.

The north (entrance) front divides into two main sections. The left part, dating to 1810 and standing two storeys over three bays, has a plinth, moulded cornice and parapet with a low-pitched hipped roof. The centre bay contains a tall 24-pane sash window with intersecting glazing bars under an arched head; a similar window to the left is now blocked, while the right bay has a later 3-light transomed window with a 2-light mullioned window above. The right part dates to 1830-37, set forward and divided into three sections. A 3-storey tower on the left is fronted by a 2-storey projecting porch with a tall Gothic arch under a hoodmould, with a taller turret set back to its right. A set-back 2-storey centre with two bays is followed by a further set-back 3-storey tower bearing a blank shield in a large panel below the parapet and a corbelled-out oriel positioned diagonally at its right end. Windows throughout are mullioned and mullioned-and-transomed, with small-paned sashes and casements set under hoodmoulds. Embattled parapets and tall stacks with dentilled cornices finish the composition. To the far right, at a lower level, an embattled yard wall features a segmental-pointed carriage arch and a small tower at its right end.

The 3-bay left return incorporates a central 3-window Gothick bow fitted with French windows and a 1st-floor sill band below 16-pane sashes; all openings have intersecting glazing bars in their heads. Flanking bays display similar 12-pane sashes to the 1st floor.

The south (river) front shows the 2-storey 1810 part with a projecting right end bay containing a mid-19th-century canted bay window. The 1830-37 left part features 4-storey towers, the left one with a corbelled-out 2nd-floor oriel, flanking a 3-storey centre section.

Internally, the 1810 part retains pre-19th-century remains. A barrel vault was inserted in the cellar during the 16th century. The north wall of the original conventual range, now internal, preserves a 13th-century moulded segmental lavatory arch and blocked openings including 16th-century mullioned windows. The stair hall and large drawing room feature plasterwork of around 1830 with enriched cornices and ceiling borders; contemporary with this phase are the panelled door architraves and reveals, and an iron staircase with patterned panel balusters on alternate treads, shaped tread ends, a wreathed handrail and spiral curtail. A small south drawing room has an added bay of circa 1860 with enriched cornice and dado panelling of that period. Similar details appear in other rooms of the 1810 part, though the 1830-37 extension has been gutted internally. Original fireplaces have been removed.