Woodmancote Place

WOODMANCOTE PLACE

Large house with origins dating back to medieval times. A house on this site was documented in 1339 and 1434. The core of the building is a late medieval stone structure running north to south, of which only one storey survives, topped by an early 17th-century timber-framed first floor. Around 1700, the south parlour end was rebuilt with an L-shaped wing extending eastwards for 5 bays. Around 1920, the existing house was refaced and extended to the west and north in a Vernacular revival style using timber frame, brick, and tile hanging, with a tiled and Horsham stone roof and brick chimney stacks.

The oldest portion of the north entrance front is the central gabled section. The ground floor is 14th-century sandstone with large stone quoins, whilst the first floor and attics comprise early 17th-century timber framing clad in 20th-century tile hanging. The roof is tiled with large brick chimney stacks, and there are 20th-century mullioned windows. To the north-east is an circa 1920 extension of two storeys and attics, timber-framed with curved braces and brick infilling, with a projecting hipped gable to the extreme east of red brick with tile hanging above and an external brick chimney stack. This wing is entirely roofed in Horsham stone slabs. It has four 20th-century mullioned windows and a deep gabled porch of timber framing, brick and tiled roof set against the 14th-century range. To the north-west of the 14th-century range is a service wing with a projecting gable to the centre of red brick and a tile-hung first floor, tiled roof with three clustered brick stacks, and wooden mullioned windows. Attached to the service wing is an early 20th-century wall and elaborate brick gate piers with Horsham stone cornice, pyramidal caps, and ball finials.

The east front has a circa 1920 red brick ground floor and tile hanging above with a Horsham slab roof to the right, and circa 1920 red brick to the left with a hipped tiled roof. The south or garden front comprises an east side, which is the circa 1700 five-bay parlour range, refaced and refenestrated circa 1920 when two further bays were added to the east. Red brick in Flemish bond with a tiled roof and a 20th-century panelled brick chimney stack. Two storeys and attics with seven windows. Windows are early 20th-century wooden cross mullions with leaded lights and handmade iron hinges, with two hipped dormers of similar design. A central 20th-century brick and timber-framed porch is set centrally. Attached at the extreme east is a 20th-century brick and tiled wood shed. To the west of the 18th-century wing is the circa 1920 service wing, with red brick ground floor and first floor partly tile-hung, partly timber-framed with a central projecting gable with bargeboards and pendants, mullioned windows, and a recessed feature of Wealden derivation. The west return has a large gable with curved tiles to the attic and a projecting tile-hung first floor over a brick ground floor, with a one-storey brick projecting game larder.

Interior

The interior retains two 14th-century arched doorways at each end of the cross passage, retaining the bolt holes. The easternmost doorway retains the original oak plank door with original studs. The ground floor hall has an inserted early 17th-century ceiling with a roll-moulded axial beam with triangular stops, a chamfered cross beam with lamb's tongue stops, and chamfered floor joists with lamb's tongue stops. There is a large chamfered early 17th-century oak chimney beam with rush light marks and an indentation made by an iron crane, with an opening for a bread oven to the left and two salt niches. The first floor above the 14th-century range is of early 17th-century timber framing with jowled posts, midrail, and curved tension braces. There are two large chambers, the southernmost with a blocked arched doorcase with plain spandrels and rush light marks. The roof to this wing is of queen-post type with through purlins, collar beam, curved wind-braces, and original rafters.

The 18th-century parlour wing to the south-east has been largely reworked internally but retains its roof of staggered purlins and two original three-plank doors. The parlour has an early 20th-century fireplace, and the dining room has Queen Anne style 20th-century oak panelling and a stone fireplace of Jacobean type. The former music room to the east is an early 20th-century addition with a bolection moulded fireplace flanked by two round-headed niches and panelling. When the house was extended circa 1920, the staircase was moved from the centre of the 18th-century wing to the north-east, and a large well staircase in Jacobean style was inserted, utilising the former outside wall of early 17th-century date as a gallery and adding Jacobean plank and muslin-type panelling on the ground floor. The billiard room to the north-east has a circa 1920 fireplace with wooden surround and curved brick hood. A series of circa 1920 fireplaces serve the bedrooms, with bathroom fittings of the period. The service wing retains a bell system and game and meat larders.

Historical context

Due to the proximity of the house to the Parish church, the 14th-century building may have been in ecclesiastical use. In 1723, there was recorded a hall, two parlours, and at least four chambers, besides offices. The site is a moated site. A crown post roof to the north-west was mentioned in the County Council records but was not visible at the time of inspection.