Stanstead Bury

Stanstead Bury is the manor house of Stanstead, a compact and irregular large house of two storeys with attics that presents formal symmetrical fronts to the east and south.

The oldest part is the south-west wing, built in the late 15th century for the Abbey of Waltham. This original section is a timber-framed hall-range with a crown-post roof, now cased in 18th-century red brick with an inserted floor and attics. The building was substantially developed over subsequent centuries. Additions were made to the north and east of the nucleus in 1563, and a mid-17th-century range was constructed to the south-west (later demolished in the early 19th century). In 1689, the east range was remodelled for Edmund Field as the principal front. After 1802, the south front was refaced for Robert Jocelyn. Between 1930 and 1931, the north wing was built, the entrance was moved to the west, and various accretions were removed by E G Cole for Sir William Gosselin Trower.

The exterior combines timber-framing (generally plastered but exposed on the stair turret) with red brick and stucco. A steep red tiled roof covers the whole. The 16th-century red brick is largely plastered over, though exposed sections remain on the west and north elevations. A semi-octagonal turnpike stair turret with decorative exposed timber-framing projects from the north-east, with a third storey added in the 17th century. A timber bellcote rises over the south roofs.

The east range of two storeys with attics and cellar contains the principal rooms and central staircase. This elevation, remodelled in 1689 as a tall symmetrical brick building, features a steep tiled hipped roof, modillioned eaves cornice, and an advanced centre. It displays two, three and two tall windows with a triangular pediment over the lower central window (formerly the main door) and four dormer windows in the roof slope with triangular and curved pediments (pattern a b b a). The dormers retain 17th-century leaded casement cross windows; the north wall has a single window under a flat gauged arch. Elsewhere, windows have been replaced by flush box sashes with 6/9 or 9/6 panes.

The south front, of stucco, is symmetrical with two storeys and three windows. It features an advanced centre with a steep hipped roof, modillioned eaves, and a moulded cornice. Ground floor openings are set in round arched recessed panels. A central half-glazed door with panelled fanlight gives access, flanked by recessed sash windows with 9/6 panes below and 6/6 above.

The interior retains exceptional features from around 1690. The stair hall contains bolection-moulded oak panelling and a cornice. The oak staircase has a cut string with carved and fluted balusters, four of which form a wreath at the bottom, and a stone floor with black marble dots. Similar bolection panelling and fine cornices line the east range. The former 16th-century parlour, now used as a dairy, is supported by Jacobean wooden Doric columns. The turret contains a turnpike stair with a central pole. A moulded and stopped wooden opening sits on the first floor over the entrance hall. The first floor east room contains an 18th-century cast iron firebasket with classical reliefs. The south range features a marble fire surround with fluted coloured inlay.

Heraldic stained glass dated 1563 remains in a chamber over the west door. A ground floor appears to have been introduced around 1930.