Stratford Upon Avon Grammar School For Girls

Stratford-upon-Avon Grammar School for Girls

This manor house, located in Shottery, was probably originally a farm building belonging to Evesham Abbey (documented in 1402). It was converted to a house in the 15th century, received windows of the late 17th century, and underwent significant alterations with partial demolition in the mid to late 18th century. Early to mid-20th century additions followed its conversion to a school.

The main building is constructed of coursed squared stone with ashlar dressings, with a renewed tile roof and rebuilt brick stack at the front of the ridge, along with other brick stacks. It follows a half-H plan with a single-storey south wing. The front elevation is 2 storeys with a 10-window range, though some windows have been blocked. The central entrance features a brick 4-centred moulded arch with dripstone and an old battened door. The windows have lintels with keys over wooden cross-casements with leaded glazing. The ground floor has 3 windows to the left of the entrance and a brick-blocked window at the left end, with 2 canted bay windows to the right of the entrance, featuring hipped roofs and 1:3:1-light transomed and leaded windows. There are 2 lintels over the entrance. The first floor has 5 glazed and 5 blocked windows, including one brick-blocked example, and a 18th-century gabled dormer to the right half. A rainwater head bears the Harewell arms. Attached convex walls project to the ends. The left return has a timber-framed gable with a 5-light ovolo mullioned and transomed window on the first floor.

The rear elevation features a later 2-storey projection with parapet and a balcony on timber posts between re-entrant blocks, one forming a porch. The left wing is brick with a timber-framed first floor, a large external end stack, and a Tudor-headed entrance with heavy frame and plank door. The right wing has a cross wing enclosing a balcony and stair to the inner return, constructed of stone with a brick first floor.

The interior retains an exposed original rear wall. The hall and entrance lobby contain 17th-century panelling with top fluted panels, chamfered beams, and plasterwork motifs to the ceiling. The fireplace features a hollow-chamfered bressumer and a plaster overmantel with 3 panels, flanked by inverted rose sprigs around the Harewell arms. The room to the left has 17th-century panelling, chamfered beams, and a bressumer to a brick fireplace. The room to the right contains an 18th-century fireplace and a round-headed cupboard. The stair has square turned balusters and newels. The landing window retains armorial glass with some panelling at the end.

At the left end is a notable 15th-century three-bay hammerbeam roof, originally longer, comprising 3 trusses with arch-braced hammer beams, arch-braced collars, and moulded members. Double purlins with window braces support the structure. A large brick chimney breast, stepped to the top, has a 20th-century ashlar Tudor-arched fireplace with cornice.

The manor was owned by Evesham Abbey until the 14th century, then passed to the Harewell family (1402 to around 1746) and subsequently to the Flower family of Stratford from 1919 onwards.