Almeley Manor

Almeley Manor is a house, probably dating from the 16th century, with 17th and early 20th century additions. It is constructed of sandstone rubble with a timber-frame and brick infill, with sandstone slate roofs and brick end stacks. The building has a rectangular plan aligned west-north-west/east-south-east, incorporating a southern porch. It is two storeys high, with an attic.

The south elevation features a 3:1:1:1 window arrangement, with late 20th century square casements. A projecting gabled porch, centrally positioned on the right-hand side, has a gable front to the right and a two-storey design with sandstone rubble walls for the ground storey and a timber-framed upper storey. The porch lintel is brattished, and the gable features a single 3-light contemporary window on each storey. The ground floor of the main range has two 2-light windows to the left, a 3-light window between them and the porch, and a small single-light window to the right of the porch. A lower timber-framed extension is attached to the left of the main range and contains a single 2-light window. The porch’s first-storey window is 2-light; its gable tie-beam is supported by projecting brackets and features a king-post with herringbone struts, appearing to be a re-used joist. The interior of the porch has plaster-filled framing.

The main range’s exterior framing consists of two square panels up to the first floor level to the left of the porch, and two more to the first floor to the right. The first floor to the right of the porch has narrow studding, as does the gable of the porch and the right-hand gable, which also incorporates herringbone struts. An early 20th century extension is attached to the rear.

Inside, the principal eastern room boasts a 16th century ceiling with 16 panels. These panels have multiple roll moulded margins and subsidiary pyramidally chamfer-stopped joists arranged in a chequerboard effect. The fireplace in this room has roll moulded stone jambs and a chamfered segmental oak lintel, bearing a small inscription in block letters. Adjacent to the fireplace is some 17th century panelling with fluted margins, repurposed into a door in the entrance hall. A western ground floor room of the main range retains a four-centred arch to its stone fireplace, restored in the mid-20th century. A first floor room in the east part of the house has two primitive-style corbel heads, possibly dating from the 12th century, re-set in a fireplace, alongside an ogee-headed niche. Two triangular headed doorways are blocked in the centre part of the house; some roof trusses feature angle struts, and others have queen struts.