Treemans

HORSTED KEYNES TREEMANS ROAD 1. 5405 Freemans TQ 32 NE 12/472 II

1. It is an L-shaped building. The original portion is C16 and timber-framed but now mostly tile-hung, though the timbering with red brick infilling is exposed in one place. The south front of the south-east wing is faced with ashlar with long and short quoins and a large brick chimney breast. The north-east wing has a projection of 2 storeys with a gable on its east side which is the end of the Elizabethan part of the house. Beyond this the wing was been extended to the east in the late C17 and refaced or enlarged on its north-west face. This front has 3 storeys and 5 windows. Red brick and grey headers. Stone stringcourse above each floor. Brick parapet. Casement windows with stone keystones and small square leaded panes. Door- way with semi-circular doorsteps, door of 8 fielded panels and flat hood over. The north gable end of this wing has moulded bargeboards and brackets with the date 1693 and a brick stringcourse. The house was occupied by the Wyatt family for many years, but it is chiefly known as the residence of Mary Benson, widow of Edward White Benson, Archbishop of Canterbury, from 1899 to her death in 1918. Some of the books of all 3 of her sons, A.C. Benson, R.H. Benson and E.F. Benson were written here. But Mrs Benson's life in the house is best described in her son E.F. Benson's book "Mother

Listing NGR: TQ3791826668