Bradstone Manor Gatehouse And Flanking Walls

Bradstone Manor Gatehouse and Flanking Walls

This is a late 16th-century gatehouse with flanking walls, built in Hurdwick stone ashlar with granite dressings. The structure is Grade I listed and represents a significant example of Renaissance-period fortified architecture.

The building comprises a central gatehouse flanked by two shallow projecting wings with canted ends. The central range is a three-stage square tower with cross gables and large pinnacles, topped with a rag slate roof featuring gabled ends to front, rear, and sides. The canted ends of the flanking turrets have lower rag slate roofs with gabled ends. Both the central range and turrets are decorated with Hurdwick ashlar work, moulded strings, and pinnacles on six gable ends. The turrets on the side gable ends contain ventilation openings, while the right-hand turret serves as a flue for a fireplace. The pinnacle to the turret on the right-hand flanking wing has been removed.

The ground floor features a central archway with a three-centred granite arch enriched with heavy rollmoulding and abrupt stops. The arch is framed by an outer rectangular granite surround with very heavy rollmoulding, hoodmould, and spandrels carved with stylized floral decoration. A moulded granite string continues around the building. The left-hand projecting turret contains a rectangular opening with chamfered granite surround and diamond-leaded lights. Mounting block projections project from the front of the right-hand turret.

The first floor displays a central three-light mullioned window with chamfered mullions and surround, fitted with diamond-leaded lights, beneath a continuous dripmould with suspended label stops. The gable end contains a two-light granite mullioned window with chamfered surround, diamond-leaded lights, and hoodmould. Moulded granite strings with ball finials mark the junction of the projecting turrets with the gable ends of the central range, with a weathervane positioned at the centre where the ridges meet.

The rear elevation features a moulded plinth and a four-centred granite arch at its centre, enriched with bold roll moulding and a continuous dripmould with suspended labels. Each flanking turret has two rectangular openings in chamfered granite surrounds with diamond-leaded lights, positioned asymmetrically. The main range has a three-light mullioned window with continuous dripmould above and a two-light mullioned window in the gable end.

The plan comprises a central gateway flanked by two projecting wings. A turreted stair in the left-hand projecting turret leads to the main room, which was originally open to roof. The right-hand projecting turret forms part of this room. An inner door to the staircase turret on the right has a repaired timber frame and opens through a segmental arched opening with moulded jambs and unusually decorative carved spandrels. A round-headed plank door with lock rail features ornate 19th-century wrought iron hinges. The lower part of the staircase is an open string stair with decorated carved brackets and timber newel.

At the time of listing inspection, the key was lost and the interior could not be fully examined, though it is believed to contain a four-centred granite arch to a fireplace. The main room was reportedly originally open to roof, with decorative roof timbers now partly sealed. Internal inspection would likely reveal further interesting features.

Two pairs of circular bollards with remains of a further pair stand to the front of the gatehouse, with a similar pair to the rear.

The gatehouse is flanked by dressed stone walls continuing north and south from the canted ends of the projecting turrets. The left-hand wall, which runs between the gatehouse and the stables to the west of Bradstone Manor, continues the moulded string seen above the ground floor of the gatehouse. It terminates in a battlemented parapet with copings.