The Old Manor House

The Old Manor House is an early 17th-century farmhouse. It is timber framed with malmstone sills and rendered brick noggings, and has a thatched roof. The house is two storeys and has attics. The main block is set at right angles to the road, originally following a lobby entry plan and symmetrical around a two-storey gabled porch, with the upper floor jettied on dragon beams. A three-bay rear wing, partly rebuilt in the 19th century, and a gabled block at the left end, dating from the early 19th century (but likely replacing an earlier timber-framed bay), are also part of the property. The porch has turned wood balusters and carved brackets, now glazed, and contains a panelled door. An internal door and flanking studs have been removed. All windows were renewed in 1985 and are now timber with diamond leading. The rear of the front block was originally single-storey and attic, but was raised to two storeys at a later date. The timber framing is two panels high to the ground floor, with a single panel on the upper floor, with added close studding for increased height, and incorporates braces. Gabled bays are present on either side of the porch and at the end, with the attic window blocked and bearing the date 1636. The building features carved bargeboards and a finial. The rear wing has framing three panels high and straight corner braces. Gables face the road on the central bay, which has been raised by one panel. A brick wing at the left end has a stepped three-light timber window, and a similar window is present in the end gable of the rear wing. Inside, there is a large chalkstone stack in the centre, with the upper flue rebuilt. The house underwent extensive restoration in 1985. According to local tradition, Mary Nicholas sheltered Charles II after the Battle of Worcester, and was rewarded with the right to display the royal arms on her family crest.