Knoyle Place

EAST KNOYLE CHURCH ROAD ST 83 SE (north side) 8/13 Knoyle Place (formerly listed as The Rectory) 6.1.66 GV II Rectory, now detached house. Late C14, C17, large addition to east late C18. Limestone ashlar C18 wing has Welsh slate hipped roof with ashlar stacks, rubble stone earlier range with tiled roof. L- plan, the early range now services to C18 addition. Two-storey, 3- window symmetrical east front. Door with 6 fielded panels, fanlight and sidelights with Tuscan porch in recessed centre bay, side bays have 12-pane sashes in semi-circular headed panes. First floor has three 12-pane sashes, the left one blind. Moulded cornice to plain stone blocking course. Left return, garden front, has five 15-pane sashes to ground floor, side bays slightly projecting with semi-circular headed panels, plat band to three centre bays of first floor; 12-pane sashes, cornice and blocking course as front. Attached to left is C14 range, rebuilt in C17; 2-light wood mullioned casement and 2-light C19 mullioned casement in blocked door to rear of former through passage, C17 recessed chamfered mullioned casement and C20 replacement mullioned casement to right, first floor has one 2-light and two 3-light casements, to left is rubble stone addition, possibly C18, with glazed door. Rear has 4-panelled door to left, two 2-light leaded casements and C14 moulded pointed doorway with inserted leaded casement, planked doors to right, first floor has 2-light wooden casements, C20 hipped dormer over left hand door. Right return of C18 build has 12-pane sashes, half-glazed door and round-headed stair window, rear has similar windows, short gabled wing. Interior; C14 and C17 range altered to provide services and modernised C20, but retains chamfered beam and evidence of former through passage. C18 build retains original fittings; open well stairs with stick balusters, moulded wreathed handrail. Dining room has fluted columns, stylised classical frieze and dado with guilloche ornament. Library has saucer dome ceiling with plain plaster decoration. Drawing room has reeded marble fireplace, egg and dart and guilloche ceiling frieze. Joinery includes 6-panelled doors with centre beads and window shutters. The rectory home of the Wren family at the time of Sir Christopher Wren's birth, although local legend says that due to a fire at the rectory he was actually born in a cottage elsewhere in the village. Ceased to be the rectory during 1940s.

Listing NGR: ST8784930514