Repton Manor (Templar Barracks)

Repton Manor, later Templar Barracks, is a manor house of complex build history. The manor is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Part of the existing fabric may date from the time of Edward IV (circa 1480) or earlier, but the building is otherwise of late 16th or early 17th century date. It was extended and refronted in the early 19th century with minor alterations later in the 19th century. The building is constructed of red brick, part English bond and part Flemish bond, partly on a stone plinth with stone galleting. The old tiled roof is partly gabled and partly hipped, with a massive red brick chimney of eight octagonal chimneystacks to the left of the central gable, two possibly with early 17th century fabric, and an external chimneystack to the west apparently of 19th century date.

The building is roughly rectangular in plan with the oldest range to the south west, the north part substantially of late 16th to early 17th century date, and the south east range an early 19th century addition. It is two storeys and attics with three windows to the north front. The north front has a central projecting gable with kneelers and similar gables to the ends. Windows are mainly 19th century triple casements. The south east elevation is of one storey and attics with a gabled dormer to the right over a shallow four-centred arched main door with a blank panel to the left and a triple casement window to the ground floor. The return has a gable with kneelers. The south west range has a gable with kneelers to the north and the southern part has a hipped roof with 16th century English bond brickwork, stonework and a tall external chimneystack, cemented with 19th century chimneystacks, obscured by a 19th century one storey addition. The south front of this range has 19th century English bond brickwork on a stone base and 19th century triple casements to the lower floors and a double casement to the gabled dormer. The stonework may relate to a medieval building and a cellar is said to exist to the south but there is no access. An early 19th century one storey and attic addition links the south east and south west ranges with a sash to the first floor and a plain door beneath.

The interior retains the earliest features in the south west and north ranges. The west side has a fine early 17th century winder staircase with oak treads and four painted pomegranate-shaped newel posts and solid balustrading. A close-studded partition survives to the upper floors. The attic retains late 16th or early 17th century upright posts to the southern wall of the north range, further timber-framed partitions, a queenpost and probable early floorboards under carpets. The chimneys probably survive as there is no entrance to the space beneath them. The roof to the north range is of 18th or early 19th century date with collar beams and purlins. There is no access to the roof of the south west wing. Early 19th century fittings include a straight flight staircase to the south with stick balusters and a column newel, folding shutters to windows, two six-panelled doors with fielded panels and an elliptical-vaulted wine or coal cellar.

The manor was afterwards held by the Valoigns family and later the Fogge family. Sir John Fogge lived at Repton during the reign of Edward IV and was Comptroller and Treasurer of the Royal Household and also a Privy Councillor. Circa 1578 Sir Michael Sondes became the owner, followed by the Tufton family of Hothfield. Nicholas Tufton was created Earl of Thanet by Charles I circa 1628. Hasted's History of Kent, circa 1800, mentions that a Court Baron was still being held here and "A great part of this mansion in which Sir John Fogge dwelt temp. Edward IV is remaining".

In 1844 the building, called Ripton, was occupied by James Olden, a tenant of the Earl of Thanet. The building is first shown on a 1640 estate map. The 1844 Tithe Map shows a south wing which was no longer present on the 1871 Ordnance Survey map. Repton Manor became an officers' mess in 1940, officers' accommodation in 1967 and later the residence of the Commandant and Inspector of Intelligence. In 1975 it became the School of Intelligence Service.