Eye Manor

EYE, MORETON & SO 46 SE ASHTON CP 6/5 Eye Manor 11.6.59 GV I Country house. Built for Ferdinando Gorges in 1673, with a datestone of 1680; fenestration altered in late C18, and during C20, C20 additions to north side. Brick on sandstone rubble plinth, tiled roofs. Rectangular plan with two parallel roof ranges, end stacks, central entrance, later additions extend to north end. Two storeys, cellars and attics. East front: three late C19 dormer windows with six-pane glazing bar sash windows, five 12-pane glazing bar sash windows to first floor with datestone above central window, central Doric portico with inner six-panelled door. To the north side are two blocked stone cross-mullioned window openings. Interior retains elaborate plastered ceilings in rooms on ground and first floors. The entrance hall has a large ceiling divided into nine panels by deeply moulded trabeations, each further decorated by alternating swags of floral motifs and drapery, and rosettes at the intersections, moulded panelling to walls and bolection moulded surround to fireplace, the doorway to the west has panelled pilasters and a cornice. Room to south-east has moulded panelling and bolection moulded fireplace. The ceiling has a geometrical pattern with central motifs enriched with acanthus and floral motifs and further wreaths with foliage and putti in outer panels. The south-west room has geometrical patterned ceiling with oakleaf and bay wreaths, and rosettes and altered figures at corners. The north-west room has irregular bolection moulded panelling, the ceiling has a central circular panel and square outer panels containing coats of arms of Gorges and Hilliard. The staircase hall has a panelled dado, the staircase has a pulvinated frieze, moulded risers and moulded handrail, twisted balusters and square newels. The upper landing is panelled to above dado level and is pedimented to the three sides with pilasters and cornice. The tympana to the left and right have painted motifs representing the arms of Hilliard and Gorges, the third tympanum has an escallop and swags. Each room on the first floor retains its plastered ceiling with various geometrical patterns enriched with acanthus, floral and foliage motifs and cherubs and putti, each room being of a different design. The attics and bedrooms retain some stone bolection moulded fire- places and some panelling. (RCHM, Vol 3, p 59; BoE, p 130).

Listing NGR: SO4960563841