Sprivers And Wall Attached

House. 15th-century with 16th-century extensions and substantially altered and extended in 1756 for Alexander Courthope. Timber-framed core clad with red brick, with tile-hung rear elevation. Extended with red brick. Plain tiled roofs throughout.

The older wing is of hall house origin. The main block comprises 2 storeys and attic on a plinth with moulded brick plat band and eaves cornice. The hipped roof has stacks to rear left and right, and carries 3 pedimented dormers with the central example featuring a segmental pediment. The front elevation displays regular fenestration of 5 glazing bar sashes on the first floor and 4 on the ground floor. The centrepiece consists of doubled doors with 4 raised and fielded panels, lion head door knockers, a panelled surround with keyed architrave and pediment on Doric pilasters, approached by a flight of 3 steps. The left return has a glazing bar sash on the first floor and a 19th-century canted bay on the ground floor.

The right return wing rises 2 storeys and attic at lower level, displaying identical moulded details to the front block. It features 6 pedimented dormers and a semi-circular headed glazing bar sash stair window with keyed surround. The imposts and keystone are inscribed "AC 1756" with the fleur-de-lys emblem of the Courthope family.

The rear wing incorporates the original timber-framed building and was clad with red brick on both floors to its front elevation and tile hung on the first floor to the rear at the time of the 1756 works. It has moulded plinth and plat bands, a half-hipped roof, half-hipped dormers and stacks ranged left to right. The elevations feature irregular wooden casements and boarded and panelled doors irregularly placed.

Attached and extending from the south end of the rear wing is a red brick wall, in part constructed in English bond, approximately 7 feet in height with buttresses, coping and gateway openings.

Interior

The rear wing displays a full frame with arched braces and close-studded walls. The 16th-century extension incorporates a queen strut roofed block with chamfered and stopped cross-beamed ceilings carried on massive posts. Both floors contain strapwork-enriched Bethersden marble fireplaces. The upper room retains imported 17th-century wainscotting.

The 18th-century interiors are of exceptional quality. The small entrance hall features very good quality rococo plaster cartouches displaying the arms and badges of the Courthope and Lloyd families, with an enriched modillion cornice to the ceiling. All principal rooms and corridors on both floors have similar cornices and dado rails with simple fielded and beaded panelling. The left-hand drawing room has egg and tongue surrounds to its panelling.

Moulded and lugged wooden fireplaces throughout feature rocaille scrolled friezes with scrolls emanating from eagle heads. The stair hall contains a dog leg stair with half landing and ramped and moulded handrail with renewed "Chinese Chippendale" balustrade. The dado has bead-moulded panelling with a grooved and gadrooned cornice to the coved ceiling with guilloched surround. Corridor openings are segmentally headed, and panelled doors retain original door furniture throughout.

Secondary stairs feature an original chinoiserie balustrade and ramped and moulded hand rail to the upper flight, and a newel stair to the attic with tenoned purlin roof.

The kitchen occupies a semi-basement with a very large fireplace featuring a moulded cornice mantelpiece, fitted cupboards and ramped and moulded rail to the stair.

Historical Context

This is a manorial site that passed from the Sprivers family to the Bathursts and by 1704 to the Courthope family.