Wingfield College

Wingfield College is a complex building with a rich history, originally founded as the College of St. Andrew in 1362 through the will of Sir John de Wingfield. It incorporates sections of a pre-existing manor house, later serving as a farmhouse. The building was restored in the 1970s and is now a private residence and arts centre. Construction spans from the 14th century onwards, with significant rebuilding around 1600 and extensive alterations and re-facing in the late 18th century.

The building is principally timber-framed and plastered, with plaintiled roofs, including a hipped roof over the front range. It is two storeys and has an attic, and the long front range is not quite symmetrical, with the central section set slightly forward and topped with a pediment featuring a roundel in the tympanum. A moulded wooden eaves cornice runs along the top. The facade has nine windows arranged as 2:5:2, featuring flush-frame sashes with glazing bars; the wings have an additional ground floor Venetian window. Seven of the windows are wholly or partly blind. The entrance doorway features fluted Doric pilasters against a rusticated ground, an entablature with triglyphs, and a segmental pediment, with a half-glazed door. Two segmental-headed dormers are also present. Axial white brick stacks rise from the roof.

At the rear, set at right angles to the front range, is the mid-14th century open hall of the former manor house, which has been restored and has had inserted floors removed. While part of the lower hall bay and the service end to the east have been lost, the upper gable end is original, retaining remains of two doorways to the solar end. Originally aisled, the hall features aisle posts supported by a 15th-century cambered and moulded tie beam, above which are massive arched braces to the original tie beam and an octagonal moulded crown post with 4-way bracing. The side walls of the hall were rebuilt in the 15th century, and some windows have been restored. Within the hall, at the east end, is a section of early 16th-century linenfold panelling, displaying three carved portraits, which was uncovered during the restoration.

The portion of the front range north of the hall dates back to the 14th century, with subsequent rebuilding, and the relationship between this section and the open hall is unclear. The original 14th-century work was jettied to the east and north; some original framing is visible at first-floor level, notably at the north gable end where multiple arched bracing remains intact. On the east side, the original outside wall is incorporated within a 15th-16th century lean-to addition. The south end of the front range is constructed of red brick (now plastered over externally) incorporating work around 1600, though the structural elements and floor joists appear to be 15th or early 16th century. The roof over the entire front range dates to around 1600. Late 18th-century additions include a good panelled room on the ground floor, retaining original paintwork.