Pirton Grange

Pirton Grange is a large moated house with a complex history, dating back to the 15th century and undergoing significant development through the 16th and 17th centuries. It is located on the south side of Shillington Road, near Apsley End.

The original house included a 15th-century structure with a south crosswing built in the 16th century. A further south kitchen block was added in the 16th century, and a north crosswing in the early 17th century, distinguished by its internal chimney. A short west extension to the south kitchen block, featuring a two-story, five-sided bay window over a room, was constructed in the early 17th century. Around 1690, the hall roof was raised by approximately one meter, and three tall sash windows were inserted. The front of the house was remodelled at this time, with the addition of a modillioned cornice and a doorhood. An imposing staircase was built at the west end of the south wing, and bolection panelling was installed throughout.

A vaulted brick cellar, inscribed with ‘JH 1724’, was added to the west of the original south kitchen. Extensive renovations occurred around 1879, giving the house its current appearance.

The house is timber-framed with plastered panels and painted boards fixed on top of many of the original timbers. Red brick infill is visible at the south end, contrasting with the steep, old red tile roofs which feature decorative cresting. Tall, square chimneys with corbelled tops rise from the roof.

The east front presents a three-window-wide hall range, flanked by projecting gabled crosswings. The main entrance is located in the angle with the north wing, in line with the large internal chimney. It is topped by an elaborate, hollow-arched plaster hood decorated with swords and scrolled brackets. The ground floor features two-light leaded casement windows. The south crosswing incorporates a kitchen block of equal height, extending south and featuring a two-story, ovolo-moulded five-sided bay window under a gabled tiled roof. Original timbers and mortices for a collar purlin are visible in the east gable of the south crosswing. The hall roof contains resited, smoke-blackened rafters. Clasping purlins define the roof of the north crosswing.

The interior includes a hall with bolection-moulded panelling, a staircase with closed string, barley-sugar twisted balusters, square newels, and a moulded handrail. A cross-window illuminates the staircase. Two-panel bolection-moulded doors and plaster cornices are also present, as are bold, bolection-moulded architraves to the doors. A painted black-letter inscription in the chimneypiece of a large upper room, dating from approximately 1590-1610, is surrounded by later bolection-moulded panelling and fireplace. Other fireplaces date to the early 19th century. The restoration work has revealed original leaded glazing in the side lights of the five-sided bay window.