Rodway Hill Manor (East And West Wing)

Rodway Hill Manor comprises an East Wing and West Wing, a listed building of Grade II* importance.

The manor has medieval origins but was largely rebuilt around 1520 by Sir Thomas Berkeley. It was substantially altered again after John Meredith purchased the property in 1663. Subsequent additions, alterations, and restorations have followed over the centuries.

The building is constructed of Pennant stone rubble with freestone dressings. The roof is a double-saddle modern pantile design with coped verges. The chimneys are square brick stacks with moulded stone caps, set diagonally in groups of two and three.

The main structure comprises three storeys. The south elevation displays three windows, including a 3-light leaded casement window with moulded stone mullions. Four centred sub-arches beneath square heads with rectangular dripmoulds are a characteristic feature. Heraldic beast label stops decorate the two left-hand windows. A restored gabled porch to the right has a chamfered 4-centre arch opening and bears a painted cast-iron heraldic achievement on its gable face. Two 2-light stair windows occupy the space to the left of the porch.

A projecting wing to the right, probably of later date and three storeys in height, contains similar 4-centred arch casements (possibly Victorian restorations). This wing contains two ranges of blocked moulded single-light windows. A two-storey wing at the extreme left has curved and ramped stone coping with one 2-light 4-centred arch casement to each floor and an oval window to the ground floor left.

Some windows have been restored; others retain their original iron staunchions and saddle-bars. Victorian sash windows with brick cambered heads appear on the rear elevation, which also features a moulded Tudor arch doorway beneath a square head with rectangular dripmould. A second doorway to the right carries a Tudor arch surround. To the left extends a range of Tudor arch moulded head windows, with drips on the ground floor and shields and label stops.

Interior features are of considerable importance. The east ground floor room has double exits to the south (serving the stairs and hall) with double-ogee flat head surrounds, the outer moulding double-stopped and the inner one dying on the corner. The east door carries a double-ogee surround with urn and relief stop. The fireplace wall displays plaster devices, and double-stop chamfered beams cross the ceiling.

A particularly fine dog-leg staircase occupies the centre of the building, featuring turned balusters, relief-carved strings, cut pendants, and carved newels.

The south-east room contains a richly decorated fireplace, said to have been moved from elsewhere. It displays strapwork and Ionic columns above the mantel, with male and female figures bearing corn-dollies (dating to approximately 1600). The arms of Meredith and Basset appear to be a later insertion, and the centre part of the overmantel has been removed.

The first floor contains two doorways from the stairs: one with double-ogee moulding and one with an ogee surround featuring carved stops and a battened Tudor arch door. The east room on the first floor has a Tudor arch fireplace. The centre room of this floor features a carved overdoor panel.

The east crosswing attic contains arch-braced collar trusses. The second floor of the centre portion displays two moulded door surrounds, one with a cambered head. The building is also said to contain a fine newel stair.