Morley Manor

Morley Manor

House, now a children's home. Built in 1900 by the architect George Bodley for Mrs Sacheverell Bateman, with minor alterations made in the late 20th century. The building is constructed in sandstone ashlar on its main facades, with rendered stone elsewhere and sandstone dressings throughout. It features continuous ground and first floor dripmouls, and a simulated Cotswold slate roof with moulded stone copings to the gables and parapets. The gables are embellished with ball or steeple eave and ridge finials, and the building has tall stone ridge stacks with moulded cornices and decorated lead gutters.

The house is designed in the Neo-Tudor style and comprises two storeys with irregular fenestration arranged in a U-plan formation, with a gated courtyard between the ranges at the south end. Three bay windows on the main front are topped with embattled parapets featuring ridgeback copings.

The main elevation features a gabled two-storey porch to the north, flanked by embattled bay windows on either side, each with a set-back gable above. To the south of the southern bay window is a wide bay with an embattled bay window beyond, likewise with a gable set back above. Recessed to the south of this is a gabled bay containing a semi-circular bay window. The porch itself is decorated with a moulded four-centred arched doorcase with dripmould, flanked by tall pilasters with steeple finials and an elaborately carved stone coat of arms above. Within the porch is a simpler four-centred arched doorcase with a studded wooden door.

The fenestration is varied throughout. Either side of the porch are 2-light recessed windows with chamfered mullions and transoms. The bay windows contain similar 6-light windows with two major mullions. The large bay window to the south features a 9-light window, also with two major mullions, whilst the semi-circular bay contains 6-light windows. Above this semi-circular bay is a 6-light recessed window with chamfered mullion and two major mullions. In the upper storey of the wide bay window are two adjoining 3-light recessed windows with chamfered mullions and a decorated stone shield in the panel between them. The gables above all have ventilation slits, and the gable over the wide bay window is punctuated by a four-centred arched doorcase. The bay windows feature 2-light side windows matching those on the front elevation.

The south elevation is marked by central square gatepiers topped with ball finials, connected by iron railings and gates between the two ranges.

The interior contains good Tudor style panelling, a staircase, and fireplace in the hall. The adjoining room to the south retains the only surviving plasterwork ceiling. Several rooms feature four-centred arched fireplaces, with one in the southern room having a carved overmantle that possibly incorporates original Tudor pieces. A small fireplace in the southern bedroom is executed in the style of Bolsover Castle, complete with hood. Most doors are panelled in Tudor style.