The Sanctuary (Forthampton Estate)

SO 8532 FORTHAMPTON SCHOOL LANE (east side)

7/69 The Sanctuary 10.1.55 (Forthampton Estate)

GV II

House, formerly functioning as solar block off hall (now Sanctuary Cottage q.v.) attached left. Built c1500, C19-early C20 extension. Close-studded timber-framing, red tile roof, painted brick extensions and stacks. Rectangular main body with central projecting porch with C19-early C20 extensions either side. Two- storey, 3-bay facade with central 2-storey gabled porch, lit by single light window with glazing bars, C19 plank door below with projecting tiled pitched canopy. C19 early C20 brick extensions with catslide roofs, projecting forwards either side of porch lit by C20 three-light casement with horizontal glazing bars and a 2- light casement with glazing bars respectively. Gabled access to former hall (now Sanctuary Cottage) upper left. Projecting right gable-end stack, C20 lateral stack right of gabled access to former hall. Original bargeboards with carved vine scroll decoration on projecting porch and foliate decoration on bargeboards at north gable end also original. Interior: deep flat-chamfered beams in ground floor rooms. Tudor-arched stone fireplace with moulded surround in former side wall of left-hand room. Upper left-hand room; central queen post truss with moulded soffit to tie beam and braces open wooden lattice with floral decoration at intersections and heraldic shield above tie. Carved wooden bosses 3 with shields, two with the engrailed cross of Tewkesbury Abbey and one with the arms of Clare impaling Audley, projecting from plain plastered ceilings in both upstairs rooms, other bosses with finely carved floral decoration. Brattished wallplate in both upstairs rooms. Loft inserted in part of ceiling of right-hand room. History; built by Tewkesbury Abbey, originally called St. Roberts, formerly included a chapel and dovecot. (V.C.H., Glos. Vol 8, p 197.)

Listing NGR: SO8551332487