Manor House And Attached Walls

Manor House. Dating from the 17th century, with alterations in the 18th century and enlargement and remodelling in a 17th-century style between 1887 and 1891 under the patronage of Sydney Graves Hamilton. The house is constructed of ashlar limestone with a limestone slate roof, featuring flat coped gables and roll-cross finials. A slate and glass roof covers a 19th-century infill of the courtyard, visible from the road. A polygonal lantern with a leaded roof sits atop a 19th-century stair turret. Four triple diagonal stacks rise from the facade, each with moulded tops.

Originally, the 17th-century block was shaped like a 'U'. A two-gabled rear entrance was added in the 19th century, replacing the original courtyard, and a further extension was built to the right wall, forming the main entrance. The extension incorporates a rectangular 19th-century stair turret projecting from the facade. The facade is two storeys high with an attic, and has five gables. The projecting stair turret has a moulded string near the top. The front features six windows, with 2-light stone mullioned casements, alongside 3 and 4-light mullioned and transomed casements, most with stopped hoods. The mullions are flat-chamfered. A half-glazed, plank door is set in a 4-centred arched surround with a stopped hood and roll-moulded surround, positioned slightly left of centre. A large scratch sundial is on the gable on the left, inscribed "NOLI CONFIDERE NOCTI," with an insurance plaque below. The left wall represents the most complete survival of the 17th-century manor house, with a principal gable and two Cotswold dormers. These dormers have pointed and roll-cross finials, with bulls-eye windows near their apex. Windows on the ground and first floors are 3-light, flat-chamfered, stone mullioned windows, and 4 and 6-light mullioned and transomed windows, the latter incorporating King mullions. A lead rainwater head, initialled and dated M G 1744, is located on the rear left wall.

Attached to the left end wall is a curving wall constructed of squared and dressed limestone. This wall features three ashlar piers with fielded panels, flanking the entrance to a former rear yard. Two of these piers retain their original moulded tops, one with a ball finial. The third pier, within the wall to the right, has a 19th or 20th-century moulded top and a square lantern. A 4-centred arched doorway is situated far right. Another wall runs forward from the left wall of the main body, featuring two round-headed arches, one blocked, and a 4-centred arched doorway.

The interior includes a 17th-century dogleg staircase with turned balusters and a closed string. Two large salting vats are located in the dairy, situated in the north corner of the 17th-century block.

Historically, the poet and landscape gardener William Shenstone stayed at the manor house around 1750, and planting inspired by him remains visible in the surroundings. The rear wall was refronted between 1887 and 1891, during which time the 18th-century facade and an attached library wing were moved uphill to Kiftsgate Court.