Caxton Manor House

TL 3058-3158 12/76 31.8.62

CAXTON ERMINE STREET (West Side) No. 53 (Caxton Manor House)

GV II*

Manor house, at one time The George Coaching Inn. Late C16, refronted in early C18 with C19 and C20 alterations. Red brick, steeply pitched slate and plain tile roofs. Two storeys with attics and cellars. Main range to street with two rear turrets possibly for staircases and closets, arid central carriageway. Rear wing at obtuse angle to south, partly demolished, and rebuilt with C20 single storey range. Symmetrical facade to main range of seven 'bays' with three central 'bays' slightly recessed. Entrance in original carriageway with floor raised, approached by stone steps with C20 door and sidelights and fanlight in elliptical brick arch with stone keyblock and imposts. Six ground floor early C18 twelve-paned hung sash windows (with the exception of one to south replacing C19 doorway), and seven first floor C19 hung sash windows in cambered brick arches. Four hipped dormer windows with iron casements. Plain parapet with stone copings interrupted by brick clock turret dated '1887 VR', with wooden bell canopy, pyramidal roof and weathervane. Two ridge stacks and end stack to right hand. A number of sealed late C16 chamfered-mullioned brick windows in side and rear elevations, some with original plaster rendering, and later window insertions. One very fine twelve-light mullioned window above carriageway in rear elevation. C20 entrance to rear of carriageway with panelled oak doors and multi-light Tudor windows designed by Major J Gedge. Interior: Chamfered ceiling beams and two large inglenook hearths to south room and kitchen. Two cellars flanking cartway each with arched recesses and entrances from rear turrets, moulded cross-beams in cellar to north. C19 staircases in both rear turrets; C18 and C19 partitions and doorcases. The manor house faces the original market site; the rear wing is built beside a boundary that followed the ancient strips of the open fields.

R.C.H.M. West Cambs., p37, mon.8 Pevsner. Buildings of England, p315 V.C.H., Vol. V, pp26, 27, 32. Brown J, Caxton Now and Then 1984

Listing NGR: TL3036658315