Dunshay Manor House

Dunshay Manor House is a manor house dating from the late 16th and early 17th centuries, with enlargement in the mid-17th century and partial rebuilding around 1906, designed by architect Philip Sturdy. The house is constructed of rough ashlar stone with stone slate roofs and ashlar stacks with moulded caps.

The rear (west) range originates from the late 16th and early 17th centuries. North and south ranges were added in 1642, a date marked on a rainwater head with the initials 'JAD' for J and A Dolling. The north range was largely rebuilt in 1906. The entrance (east) front features a central porch flanked by gables, marking the ends of the north and south ranges. The porch has a moulded parapet and a round-arched doorway with moulded capitals. An inner doorway has a depressed four-centred arch. The south gable has a three-light stone mullioned window with a hoodmould on each floor. A similar style was used for the north gable’s 1906 reconstruction. A fragment of a stone statue is re-set in a niche within the north wall of the rear range. The south front includes, at its west end, two stone mullioned windows with 'C' and 'D' carved on their stops (referring to Christopher Dolling, who died in 1612). A first-floor window has the words 'Cheese Room' painted on its lintol. Ovolo-moulded stone mullioned windows were added to the east section of this front in 1642. Large buttresses are present along this front, and all mullioned windows have lead lights.

Attached at the west end of the south front is a former cider cellar, characterized by rubble stone walls and a stone slate roof. This section features a ledged door and casement windows, one with lead lights. A lean-to extension is located at the rear of the rear range.

Internally, a ground floor room in the north range contains a section of reset 17th-century panelling. The rear range’s ground floor features deep chamfered ceiling beams. A room above the kitchen has a stone fireplace with an elliptical arch. The front ground floor room in the south range has a stone corner fireplace with a four-centred arch. A rear room in this range contains reset 17th-century panelling with a carved frieze. The first floor contains some 17th-century plank and muntin partitions and reset 17th-century panelling.

The house is believed to be situated on the site of a medieval house once belonging to Alice Brewer, who contributed Purbeck marble for the construction of Salisbury Cathedral. A quarry is reputed to have been located northwest of the house.