Manor Lodge

Manor Lodge is a country house built around 1590, probably designed by Robert Smythson for the Earl of Shrewsbury. It has been substantially altered in the 18th century and later periods.

The building is constructed of coursed squared rubble with ashlar dressings and a graduated stone slate roof. It features a chamfered plinth, quoins, moulded first and third floor bands, deep moulded eaves, and a plain parapet. There are 5 ridge stacks and 3 rear wall stacks, all with coped gables and kneelers. The structure rises to 5 storeys plus garrets and is arranged on a cross plan.

The main south facade has a projecting central bay. At ground level is a single storey 19th-century square bay window with coped parapet and 4 plain sashes, flanked by single blocked openings. Above this is a single large round-headed 18th-century glazing bar sash window with engaged shafts and moulded square-headed reveal with blank shields in spandrels. The next floor contains a 16th-century 18-light mullioned and transomed window with the top and outer rows of lights blocked. Above this is a single mullioned casement.

The left wing has a single storey 19th-century porch with a four-centred arched door in the return angle. To its left is a 19th-century 3-light mullioned window. Above are 2 three-light 16th-century mullioned windows on each of the 4 upper floors. The right wing has 2 three-light 16th-century mullioned windows on each floor, with the right one blocked, and similar windows above each floor.

The west gable end features a central projecting bay with a blocked chamfered doorway to the left and a 19th-century 3-light mullioned window to the right. Above are single 4-light mullioned windows on each floor, and above these a similar 2-light window. The flanking bay to the left has a 19th-century 2-light mullioned window, with 2 superimposed tall 6-light mullioned and transomed windows above, all lights but one blocked. The flanking bay to the right has a blocked 19th-century 2-light mullioned window in a porch, and above, a single blocked window.

The rear elevation features a central projecting bay with flanking wings. Each wing has a central corbelled projecting shaft with 3 blocked windows, uniting with a chimney stack at eaves level. A 20th-century single storey flat-roofed addition with central doorway and 3 casements is located to the left. The central bay has a 6-light mullioned window with one blocked light; above, an 18-light mullioned and transomed window with 10 blocked lights; above again, a similar window with all lights blocked; and above again, an unglazed 2-light mullioned window. The left wing has single 3-light mullioned windows on each floor, with all lights but 2 blocked. The right wing has a 3-light mullioned window with one blocked light and a 19th-century close-boarded door in a chamfered reveal. Above are similar windows and blocked doorways. The upper floors have single 3-light mullioned windows on each floor, with the upper 2 having 2 blocked lights.

The east gable end has a central projecting bay with a 20th-century single storey lean-to of brick with asbestos cement roof, blocking 3 lights of the original 4-light mullioned window. Above are single 4-light mullioned windows on the first and second floors; above again, similar blocked windows on the third and fourth floors; and above again, a blocked 2-light mullioned window. The bay to the left has a 2-light mullioned window and a single blocked opening above. The bay to the right has 2 superimposed 6-light blocked mullioned and transomed windows.

The interior has been greatly altered. The west wing contains an original spiral stair with a square ashlar newel and oak slab treads. The third floor Great Chamber has a large moulded ashlar doorcase and a moulded ashlar side wall fireplace with ears and shoulders, flanked to the left by a chamfered blocked opening with broach stops. Other rooms contain 5 chamfered doorways and 5 smaller fireplaces with chamfered reveals. There are 3 early 19th-century fireplaces and grates, and 10 fielded panel 18th-century doors. The roof is a softwood queen-post structure of the late 18th century.

Most windows throughout the building are leaded casements.