Basmead Manor Farmhouse

TL 16SW STAPLOE AND DULOE STAPLOE

1/173 Basmead Manor Farmhouse 7.5.52 (formerly listed as Basmead Manor)

• II*

Farmhouse, formerly manor house. Late C15 to C18. Part timber framed with colour washed plaster infill, part colour washed brick. Clay tile roof. Hall and cross-wing, hall of 2 storeys, cross-wing of 2 storeys and attics. 3-bay hall : on rebuilt brick plinth, has 2 C19 canted bays and one 2-light horizontal sash to ground floor, one round-headed fixed light and 2 sashes to first floor, all with glazing bars. Front door to W, opening onto hallway originally possibly the screens passage. Interior : open hall divided into 2 floors in C17, retains crown post roof and solar to E with 8-light watching window with part restored wood tracery. Cross-wing: projecting gable is 1973- 74 reconstruction. Oldest part probably mid-C16, when this block took over hall's functions. Interior : ground floor room has carved rosettes and mouldings to beams, one main post with imitation shaft and capital, others with evidence of similar decoration; brackets to one beam have spandrels carved with grotesque figures, foilage and feathers; remains of stone fireplace with roll moulding to jamb, probably C12, reputedly imported from Bushmead Priory C17 brick addition to rear of cross-wing has complete early C18 panelling to first floor room. Late C18 2-storey addition within rear angle, lean-to addition to E of this. (N.W. Alcock; "Timber framed buildings in North Bedfordshire", Bedfordshire Archaeological Journal, Vol IV, 1969.)

Listing NGR: TL1396861195