Manston Hall

TL 85 NW 4/151 14.7.55

WHEPSTEAD TUFFIELDS ROAD Manston Hall (Formerly listed under Melon Green)

II

House, former manor house; mid C16, extended c.1600, C18, and early C20. 3- cell, cross-passage entrance plan, with later service cross-wing. Exposed timber-framing with rendered panels between; the original house long-wall jettied at the front on brackets. Thatched roof, hipped at left-hand end, with axial chimneys of red brick; a group of 4 mid C16 octagonal shafts with moulded caps and bases, on square plinth with sunk panel. C16 and C17 moulded mullioned windows, restored C20 with iron casements and leaded lights; some C18 leaded casements. Boarded C20 entrance door; arched-headed frame with carved spandrels. The original house has arch-braced close-studding and twin arched service doorways into buttery and pantry. Above the fireplaces of the parlour and parlour chamber are late C16 black letter inscriptions painted on plaster; the former quotes the Geneva Bible of 1560, the latter has not been deciphered. In the parlour chamber a frieze of painted foliage and traces of extensive wall decoration. The kitchen cross-wing to right added c.1600. Small C18 wing at rear possibly added as a separate dwelling. The house restored and extended to left early C20, by Basil Oliver ARIBA. The manor was held, and the present house built by the Sturgeon family from C16 to C18; the encircling moat is probably of C13 or C14 origin.

Listing NGR: TL8344156716