Docwra Manor

Docwra Manor is a surviving wing of what was once a larger house, dating back to 1609. It was originally built for Thomas Docwra, as evidenced by an armorial plaque (now reset above the principal first-floor fireplace) displaying the Docwra family crest and the inscription “1609/EN DIEV EST TOVT”. The house was likely intended as a western parlour wing to an older, probably aisled, hall house located to the east, which is believed to have been destroyed in the early 19th century. In the 19th century, the wing was converted into an inn, and later, in the late 20th century, large extensions were added to the east, which are not considered to be of special architectural interest.

The wing is constructed of limestone rubble and flint walling with red brick corners, and features moulded limestone windows. The north gable is roughcast. Masonry returns only a short way along each end of the east wall, the rest being timber-framed, with close-spaced studs and red brick infill visible beside the modern extensions. The building was planned as a large, two-story crosswing, featuring two large rooms on each floor and a lobby with a staircase at the western end. Originally, a large projecting chimney on the west side heated the north room on each floor. A corresponding brick chimney was added in the 18th century to heat the southern part of the wing.

The present entrance is through a single-story flat-roofed porch of brick and flint with a parapet, dating from the 19th or 20th century, and featuring an arched doorway with double doors. Tall, three-light, ovolo-moulded stone mullioned windows illuminate the upper rooms within each gable end. Wooden, 19th-century, ovolo-moulded, three-light sash windows are visible in the ground floor of each gable. Smaller windows on the west side retain their ovolo-moulded stone surrounds but lack mullions; the lower sill of one suggests a former stair window. The original chimney has sloping offsets, a cross worked into the flint, and a moulded brick cornice. This chimney serves a ground-floor stone fireplace with a four-centred arched head and moulded jambs. Above the fireplace is the armorial plaque. The building formerly operated as The Old Oak Public House in the 19th century.