Billingham Manor

SHORWELL

SZ48SE EMMETT HILL 1354-0/9/296 Billingham Manor 21/07/51 (Formerly Listed as: Billingham house)

GV II*

Large house, never a manor house. West front dated 1631 partly refenestrated in late C17 but house largely remodelled c.1729 when passed to Edward Worsley son of Sir Edward Worsley of Gatcombe House. Built partly of stone rubble and partly Flemish bond, red brick with some grey headers and stone dressings. Tiled roof with brick chimney stacks. 2 storeys, attics and basement with projecting end wings to east and one projecting service wing to south west. West or entrance front is of stone rubble. L-shaped. Irregular fenestrations. 2 dormers with casement windows. 1st floor has to extreme left C18 12-pane sash with wide glazing bars then 5 light mullioned and transomed casement, 12 pane sash with narrow glazing bars then projecting service wing with cross windows. Ground floor has one 2 light mullioned window and early C18 projecting pedimented porch with triglyph frieze and rusticated pilasters and 2 panelled door. This is flanked by 12 paned sashes. Plinth. To the south is a 2 storeyed projection which was the original C17 porch. The original gable with finial is still visible. To the north of the porch is a stone dated 1631. North front is entirely of c.1729. Red brick in Flemish bond. 4 early C18 12-pane sashes with thick glazing bars and rubbed brick voussoirs. The 2 end 1st floor windows have brick architraves with ears and feet. Basement has 2 mullioned windows. East or garden front is early C18 comprizing centre of 3 bays and end projecting wings with hipped roofs of 1 bay each. Red brick in diaper bond with some grey headers. End stone quoins and dressings to this front. Stone plinth. 12-pane sashes in stone architraves with keystones. 5 dormers with casements, the centre one triple light. Central doorcase with cornice, plain pilasters and 6 panelled door, the top 2 panels cut away and glazed. South front is of 3 storeys and attics. Right hand side has upper floors of red brick in diaper bond with end quoins and 5 mainly 12-pane sashes. Ground floor is of stone rubble with C17 mullioned windows and a stone doorcase with curved heads. Stone 2 storey service wing to west with early C20 metal windows, becoming 1 storey with 4 light window and plank door. The interior has a fine early C18 staircase with 3 turned balusters to each step and scrolled treat ends, some early C18 panelling to the hall, some C17 panelling to the rear passage on the right hand side and a secondary winder staircase. The dining room has an early C18 rotating bookcase hidden by a sliding panel. The house was owned at one time by J.B. Priestley. (V.C.H.: 279; C W R Winter: The Manor Houses of the Isle of Wight: 41).

Listing NGR: SZ4860281899