Abbey Old House

Abbey Old House is a building with a 16th-century core, significantly altered in subsequent centuries, and largely refronted in the 19th century. Originally a long block, it now includes a return-gabled wing of the 19th century at the east end, and a 20th-century flat-roofed addition to the west end. The exterior is constructed from cut and squared limestone, with a coved cornice on the north side and a parapet on the south. The west gable has a coped gable with a large, diagonally set square base to a ball finial, while the east side features a stone stack with a moulded capping. The roof is covered with concrete tiles to the north and stone slates to the south, with a mansard roof in the centre.

The entrance front features a gable to the left with a two-storey, hexagonal, 19th-century hipped roof bay with chamfered mullion casements. A 4-centred arch provides access to a six-panel door, situated within a two-storey, five-bay extension from the main roof. This extension incorporates 2-light chamfered mullion casements under stepped drips, and a canted oriel window on a rounded corbel in the second bay on the first floor. There are also 19th-century casements on the ground floor, and a wide four-panel flush door to the far right. A low extension of cut and squared limestone is situated to the left, featuring a flat and weathered parapet. The garden front is two storeys and an attic in seven bays, featuring sashes with glazing bars. A two-storey bow with triple sashes is located on the far right, and a single-storey 20th-century bow is on the far left. A central glazed door provides access. A three-storey gable with a canted bay is found at the west end.

The interior includes a heavy arch-braced roof with upper crucks, wind bracing and untrimmed rafters at the east end. A good open-well staircase, dating from the 18th or early 19th century, has turned balusters. There are numerous 18th and 19th-century parallel doors and elliptical-headed openings. Further features include heavy, rough-chamfered beams and a single 16th-century 4-centred built-in opening. The building is a palimpsest, representing a rare surviving element of the Benedictine Abbey, founded in 972, which was largely destroyed. It sits at an obtuse angle to the only other remnant, known as Winchcombe Abbey.