Monkton House With Attached Garden Walls

Monkton House is a detached house of late 16th-century date with a range added to the east in the early 17th century. It stands on the south side of Melksham Road in Broughton Gifford.

The house is built of rubble stone with stone slate roofs featuring coped verges and lateral and gable end stone stacks. It is arranged in an L-plan with an early range incorporating a stair turret in the angle, and a parallel range added to the north-east side. The building rises to two storeys and attic, with a 2-window south front.

The principal architectural feature is a fine door to the gable end of the 17th-century range on the right. The door displays an oval panel carved with the Thynne family motto "AY BONNE CAUSE" and a carved stag to the centre, set within a moulded stone architrave with pediment. To its left is a 4-light mullioned and transomed casement with king mullion and relieving arch; to the right, a 2-light mullioned casement. Two attic gables contain 3-light and single-light mullioned casements, all hollow-chamfered. A datestone inscribed 1647 appears on the right gable end.

The right return of the 17th-century range features a lean-to porch to the left with fixed windows and a casements ledged door. To the right are two 2-light recessed hollow-chamfered mullioned casements with hoodmoulds, and above, three 2-light and one single hollow-chamfered casement to the first floor. Two attic gables contain 2-light mullioned casements. A large raking buttress projects to the left.

To the left of the entrance front, the angle of the L is filled with a gabled stair turret containing 2-light and 3-light mullioned casements. Each arm of the L has a lateral gabled stack. The left arm displays 2-light mullioned casements. The left return features French windows, a 4-light and 2-light mullioned casements.

The rear of the main range shows a 3-light mullioned and transomed casement to the right, and 2-light and 3-light mullioned casements with relieving arches to the left. The gable end of the north-east range is articulated with continuous string courses, and the main range displays two attic gables.

Interior

The 16th-century range retains many original features including deep chamfered beams, wainscot panelling, and good doors with moulded ribs, ornamental hinges and decorated locks. The room to the left of the entrance features early 18th-century full moulded panelling and two good doors with eared architraves, pulvinated friezes and cornices.

Good stairs occupy the angle of the L, framed with square newels bearing ogee finials and pendants, closed strings, moulded handrail and moulded turned balusters. These are concealed behind boarding but exposed on the attic landing. An original collar and tie beam roof with queen struts survives above.

The first floor south-west drawing room retains wainscot panelling and good doors with cock's head hinges. A Tudor-arched stone fireplace with consoles to its cornice occupies this room, which also contains a possible garderobe. The 17th-century wing contains newel stairs rising to the attics. A first-floor room in this range features a Tudor-arched stone fireplace decorated with four quatrefoils, strapwork cartouches and a frieze with fruit and cherubs motifs; the ceiling carries a cornice.

The south-east attic room is distinguished by an unusual rib-vaulted plaster ceiling with thin moulded ribs. A small stone Tudor-arched fireplace stands within.

Historical Context

The property was acquired by Henry Long of Whaddon in the 1550s. Thomas Long sold it to James Thynne of Longleat in 1670.

Attached to the right of the front are good rubble stone walls with saddleback coping. A round-arched doorway with ribbed door is set in the north-east angle of the wall, probably dating to around 1600.