Tower Cottage Wormleighton Manor Gatehouse

WORMLEIGHTON SP4453 15/180 Wormleighton Manor, Gatehouse 07/01/52 and Tower Cottage (Formerly listed as Wormleighton Manor House and Gatehouse)

GV II*

Gatehouse and lodge. 1613. Built for Sir Robert, first Lord Spencer. Ironstone ashlar, with moulded stone cornices, string courses and parapets. Tower Cottage has tile roof with coped gable parapet; roofs of gateway and tower not visible, but probably of lead; renewed ridge stacks with square shafts and moulded cornices. Cottage and gateway 2 storeys, tower 4 storeys; 4-window range. Cavetto moulded mullioned windows throughout. Front towards Wormleighton Manor House (q.v.) has tower on left and Tower Cottage on right. Central gateway projects slightly. Round arch of 2 chamfered orders. Moulded and panelled entablature. Resting on this is a panel of the Spencer achievement of arms, with the devices of the Willoughbys and Spencers in dated panels to left and right respectively. 4-light window. Moulded string course, continued across tower. Tower has 4-light window with dripstone on ground floor; upper floors have 3-light windows. String courses between first, second and third floors. Gateway and tower have parapets with moulded string course and coping. Tower Cottage is lower. Chamfered Tudor arch doorway on right has low, broad, ribbed door of 2 rows of 3 panels. 3-light mullioned windows, on ground floor with hood mould. Gateway has Tudor arch doors inside, on left with stylised flower spandrels. Left return side of tower has 3-light windows on second and third floors. Right return side of Tower Cottage has C19 Tudor arch door. 3-light windows with hood moulds. Front to village largely similar. Gateway has achievement of the Royal arms, and dated rose and thistle panels to left and right respectively. Sundial on parapet. Lower part of tower hidden by adjoining building. Tower Cottage has C20 window instead of a door. Interior not inspected. Built as the gatehouse of Wormleighton Manor House (q.v.). (V.C.H.: Warwickshire, Vol.5, p.220; Buildings of England: Warwickshire, p.483).

Listing NGR: SP4481853740