Old Soar

Old Soar is the remains of a manor-house dating to around 1290 with alterations made in the 14th century. The building was restored in the 20th century. It comprises the solar wing, chapel, and chamber with garderobe of a first-floor hall-house. The original hall was replaced in the 18th century by Old Soar Farmhouse, evidence for which has been found to the south of the solar.

The exterior is constructed of coursed rubble stone with rubble stone dressings. A steep-pitched tiled roof is joined at right-angles to the roof of Old Soar Farmhouse. The chapel and chamber projections also have steep-pitched tiled roofs. The chamber is attached at right-angles at the north-west corner, and the chapel is attached at a slight angle at the north-east corner. Tall lancet windows appear in the east and west ends of the solar on the first floor. A wide doorway on the east side leads to the undercroft and has a chamfered segmental-pointed head and jambs. A loophole on the first floor of the north side is located near the chapel angle. A central square chimney-breast and window are on the first floor to the right, with a shouldered lintel and chamfered jambs. The chapel features arched windows to the north and south; the east window is blocked and extended down to form a doorway with steps up. A doorway on the ground floor of the south side leads to the chapel undercroft with chamfered jambs and a straight segmental-pointed arch. A blocked doorway appears on the first floor to the left. The original chapel entrance has a straight segmental-pointed arch, with one chamfered jamb and the other in line with the west wall of the solar. The chamber with garderobe has cross-loops with bases on each side on the first floor and one on the east wall at ground-floor level. A two-centred arch with rubble voussoirs on the north side ground floor serves for cleaning the garderobe pit.

The solar undercroft features a pointed barrel vault. An entrance doorway is in the east wall, with a small loop in the west wall. A newel staircase at the south-west corner provides access to the solar above. In the solar, a corbel on the original hall side (south) to the east of the doorway to the solar shows the original hall to have been aisled. This corbel displays carved foliage in triple capitals with shafts finished with leaf ornament, necking, and a scroll-moulded abacus. A Bethersden marble block above supports a beam along the wall (these features are within Old Soar Farmhouse). The doorway to the staircase has a segmental-pointed arch. The west window has a hollow-chamfered rear-arch, splayed jambs, and seats with chamfered cappings. A segmental-pointed arched doorway leads to the chamber. The fireplace has lost its hood but retains a chamfered jamb on one side. The east window is similar to the opposite window but lacks seats. An open crown-post collar-purlin truss roof spans the solar.

The chapel contains a corbel on the north side of the east window with foliated ornament, a scroll-moulded abacus, and necking. A single-light window appears on the south wall. An early 14th-century piscina to the left has a cinquefoiled head, trefoil and crocket decoration, and a hexagonal drain.

Old Soar is a National Trust property in the guardianship of the Department of the Environment and is scheduled as an Ancient Monument.