Compton Scorpion Manor House

SP24SW 4/18

ILMINGTON Compton Scorpion Manor House

13/10/66

II Manor house. Late C17, with C18 alterations. Squared, coursed limestone with plinth, quoins and coped gables on kneelers and with ball finials. Stone slate roof with ashlar end stacks, that to right projecting.

Two storeys plus attic; three-window range. Three-unit, lobby-entry plan. To centre a C18 plank door with leaded overlight. Pilaster surround with bases and keystone. To left and right a-light, concave-moulded mullioned window. Immediately to right of door a small chamfered casement with Caernarvon arch. To far right a sixteen-pane fixed casement with later window. Two-light concave-moulded mullioned window to centre. A moulded string course passes directly above windows of both floors, that to ground floor ramped over doorway. Late C18 lean-to to right has two-panelled door in chamfered surround and modern mullioned window to right.

The rear of the house was modernised C18. To centre a six-panelled door within pilaster surround, with bases and keystone. To left and right a twelve-pane sash. To far left and right a double window with plain central mullion, each double window containing two twelve-pane sashes. To first floor left and right a tripartite sash, the central light of twelve panes. Between is a range of three twelve-pane sashes. Windows have plain stone surrounds. A moulded string course passes directly above windows on each floor. Front and rear have three two- and three-light C20 dormers. Left facade has a six-pane sash in moulded surround to first floor, with a two-light concave-moulded mullioned window below. C19 one-storey brick range to left.

Interior: Adam-style fireplaces. Large stone fireplace with semi-circular arch. Further semi-circular arch to left, and previously one to right. Chamfered and ovolo-moulded spine beams. Further large stone fireplace with semi-circular arch, with keystone. Early C18 panelling in lobby. C18 turned-baluster staircase rises to attics. Stone flagged floors.

Sir Thomas Overbury, poet and victim of a court intrigue was born at Compton Scorpion Manor in 1581, at the house of his maternal grandfather, Biles Palmer.

Listing NGR: SP2125540584