Lower Manaton

SOUTH HILL SX 37 SW 2/224 Lower Manaton GV II Mansion house, now private house. Rebuilt in 1687 by Francis Manaton. (Datestone FM 1687). Stone rubble, rendered on south front. Slate roof with hipped end on left and hipped end to projecting wing on right. 2 rear projecting wings with hipped ends. Rendered C20 brick axial stack at lower end on left. Rendered brick axial stack between hall and front projecting cross wing. Plan much altered and remodelled in circa C18 and C19. 3 room and cross passage plan to main range with projecting contemporary cross wing on south east in place of inner room. Wide cross passage with stairs inserted. Cross wing later used as barn. 2 shallow projecting wings to rear of hall and lower end with single storey lean-to between containing dairy. Single storey porch at front of passage. 2 storeys, regular 4-window front. Ground floor with moulded granite plinth continuing along front and projecting wing. Late C19/C20 2-light casement and large 3-light casement to left of porch with C20 French windows to right. Porch of stone rubble with slate roof with gable end. Reset granite stone arch from West Coomstead in Stoke Climsland with initials F C and date 1663. 4-centred arch with hollow chamfered jambs and ball-stops. Arms of possibly the Clark family in apex. Right-hand side wall of porch with reset chamfered granite jambs, cill and lintel of small mullion window found in partly demolished barn to east. Left-hand side wall with reset stone quatrefoil found in garden. Inner door with segmental granite arch also from West Coomstead. First floor with four late C19/C20 3-light casements. Projecting right-hand wing with 2-light granite mullion and datestone F M 16 87 reset. Found in barn to east. Third granite arch from West Coomstead reset in porch to rear on north east. Interior with later chimney pieces. C18 2-panelled doors on first floor and wide moulded doorcases on ground floor. Originally 4 fish ponds in valley below house. One survive. In field known as the warren above the house of the east, the stone walls are constructed of vertically laid slates. The top of the walls have horizontally laid slates with the top slate projecting so to prevent rabbits from jumping over. Thereby containing them within the enclosure. The old mansion of Manaton was marked by Carew in his Survey of Cornwall in 1602. In 1637 Sampson Manaton died in the old mansion house. His eldest son Ambrose Manaton entertained King Charles I at Trecarrel in Lezant. Western Morning News October 24, 1891.

Listing NGR: SX3381872084