Fryern Court

Fryern Court

House with attached stable. The principal parts of the building date to the second half of the 15th century or early 16th century, originally built for Beaulieu Abbey. The structure underwent alterations and additions during the 16th, 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries, with further significant remodelling circa 1932 by Christopher Nicholson for Augustus John. The older timber-framed sections stand partly on a rubblestone ground floor with brick infill, topped by old plain tile roofs. An early 19th-century range constructed in yellow brick with a hipped Welsh slate roof and brick chimneys forms a prominent element.

The building comprises a two-storey three-bay floored hall-range with a two-storey two-bay cross-wing at the left (south) end and a 18th-century two-storey two-bay addition with rear outshut at the right end. A further two-bay wing, formerly two-storeyed, is attached to the rear of the cross-wing but offset rather than in-line. The early 19th-century range, measuring two storeys with attic and partial cellar across six bays, was built across the east front of the cross-wing and hall-range, leaving one bay of the hall-range and the 18th-century addition exposed.

The east (entrance) elevation is dominated by the 19th-century range. A central 1930s porch provides the entrance. The ground floor has two groups of sashes: two plus three full-height 15-pane windows set in reveals with gauged flat brick arches and projecting sills. The first floor has six unevenly-spaced sashes with glazing bars, similarly detailed. An eaves band runs across, with modillion brackets supporting the oversailing low-pitched roof featuring flat-roofed dormers positioned in front of tall end stacks. A 1930s single-storey flat-roofed extension with balustrade occupies the left end. At the right end, the former timber-framed range is clad in red brick with some burnt headers in Flemish bond. The first floor on the left displays a two-light wood-framed window with a leaded casement and iron stanchion. The right gable retains exposed timbers. A large multiple-flue brick end stack, shared with a lower added extension of red brick in various bonds (part painted), features a bellcote and half-hipped roof at the right end.

The rear elevation is mostly pebble-dashed and painted throughout. The former hall range, slightly lower than the 19th-century range, is articulated by a flat-roofed canted-bay window flanked by paired sashes, with three horned 12-pane sashes breaking through the eaves above. A brick stack rises from the front roof pitch to the right of centre. The former cross-wing projects on the right, displaying a three-light window with leaded casements on the ground floor and an added porch with first-floor room above on the left, with an end stack. Projecting further rearward is the other former wing, subsequently serving as an outbuilding with an attached stable (both showing 18th-century alteration and construction). This section has three lunette windows with glazing bars and three board doors—the right-hand door serving the stable with a loft-taking-in hatch above—all set under a hipped roof with slate-hung cheeks.

Interior

The former hall range contains large-scantling spine-beams with deep chamfers and stepped-cyma stops. At the left end, traces of stencil decoration remain on the soffits of the beams and close-set large-scantling joists with carpenters' marks and stopped chamfers. The right end preserves pieces of medieval masonry set into the end wall. 18th and early 19th-century features include a large fireplace with plain surround, a bow-fronted dresser with stairs rising behind, board-lined walls with strap-hinged doors, and a brick stair descending to the cellar, which reveals the former east wall of the hall range with small square panels of brick infill. The first floor retains a folding shutter to the front window, exposed curved wind-braces, and large-scantling purlins. The roof timbers, including those at the left end, are original, with the latter showing charring.

The former cross-wing has a rear wall (within the boiler house) showing a rubblestone ground floor and close-studded timber-framing above with herring-bone brick infill. The left-hand wall at the rear end (within the basement) displays a stone pier with chamfer to the right side and a large-scantling post on the left. The rear bay contains close-set joists matching those in the hall range. The roof incorporates large-scantling timbers comprising collared principal rafter roof trusses with queen-struts and two tiers of stop-chamfered through purlins, curved wind-braces, and pegged common rafters.

The former rearmost wing originally had close-studded walls. The rear (west) wall shows later square-panelled brick-infilled timber-framing, while the right (north) wall was removed when the wing was enlarged with an outshut utilising earlier cruck-blades. Much original timber-framing survives, including jowelled wall-posts arch-braced to tie-beams and wall-plate. The roof structure features collared principal rafter trusses with queen posts and straight angle braces, with upper v-braces at the closing (west) truss, through purlins, and curved wind-braces. Remains of a 19th-century hand-pump and associated mechanisms are preserved.

The early 19th-century range includes decorative fireplaces, six-panel doors, and a dog-leg stair with turned balusters and ramped hand-rail. The attic contains two-panel doors, leaded casement windows, and a butt purlin roof. The stable contains two large stalls with boarded walls and gates, a brick-paved floor, a bow-fronted shelved corner cupboard, large-scantling beams and joists, and wide floor-boards to the loft floor.