Hillersdon Mansion

Hillersdon Mansion is the remains of a large house built around 1620-1630 for Thomas Hillersdon. It incorporates parts of the 14th-century west and south ranges of the cloisters of a Benedictine Abbey that was dissolved in 1539. The mansion was partially dismantled in the 1770s. The walls are made of a mix of coursed rubble and red brick, with ashlar dressings. The porch is faced with Totternhoe clunch and was originally linked to the church.

Currently, only parts of the east facade and the complete three-bay north facade remain, with the porch projecting from the east facade. The walls, including the porch, rise only to halfway up the first floor. The north elevation features three window openings on each floor. The east elevation has a recessed block with two window openings per floor to the left of the porch, and one window opening per floor on the south projecting block. Some windows still have moulded surrounds, mullions, and transoms.

The porch has a ground floor with a round-headed arch that includes an archivolt and keystone. The carved spandrels are badly weathered, with only the left-hand one retaining a cartouche and strapwork. The porch is flanked by pairs of Roman Doric pilasters on pedestals, which also have weathered carved panels, with niches between them. These support an entablature and the remains of a central pediment that breaks into the first floor. The first floor has a central opening flanked by the remains of paired Ionic pilasters, again on worn carved pedestals with niches between. Originally, above the central pediment and below the first floor opening, there was a cartouche bearing the shield of arms of Thomas Hillersdon, which has since been lost. Hillersdon Mansion is also a scheduled ancient monument.