Toddington Manor

Toddington Manor is a large country house dating from 1819 to 1835, designed by and for C. Hanbury-Tracy, with later alterations. It is constructed of ashlar masonry, and the roofing material is not specified. The house is arranged around three quadrangles linked diagonally, with the main house forming three sides of one, featuring a cloister within. The remaining quadrangles accommodate the kitchen and stabling. The house has two and two-and-a-half stories, while the kitchen and stabling wings are single-story.

The facade facing the church displays a moulded plinth throughout. On the left side is a two-story canted bay, flanked by octagonal turrets possessing blind arcading, a three-light window with Perpendicular tracery and a flat head on each floor, and blind quatrefoils below. A moulded string course runs above, and the turrets rise to crocketed finials beneath a crenellated parapet. To the left of the canted bay, a semi-octagonal bay displays blind tracery on the first part, while a single-light window sits on the angle, accompanied by blind tracery below both floors. A crenellated parapet, similar to the canted bay, tops this section. To the right, five two-light windows with arched heads and hoodmoulds are visible. A moulded string course is followed by five two-light mullion and transom windows featuring flat heads, Perpendicular tracery to the upper lights, and hoodmoulds. Another moulded string course leads to a crenellated parapet in four bays, punctuated by gabled pinnacles. To the right of the canted bay, another canted bay, mirroring the left side, is present. Slightly set back, arched openings lead to a two-light reticulated tracery window on the left and a boarded door with similar tracery over as a fanlight to the right. Blind tracery and a moulded string course are above, with a lancet window and hoodmould flanking a statue within a niche; a projecting head tops the structure. Blind arcading, string courses, and a crenellated parapet complete the section.

A chapel wing projects to the right, exhibiting square-set corner buttresses and blind arcading to its facade, with gabled offsets. The ground floor features blind arcading alongside a two-light window with an ogee head and hoodmould. A moulded string course leads to a six-light window featuring two king mullions, a hoodmould, and openwork crenellations above the string. Corner and central crocketed finials define the roofline. A single-story kitchen wing extends to the right. A square tower, slightly set back and partly to the left of the right canted bay, is distinguished by its corner pinnacles.

Toddington Manor is considered a significant example of Gothic-revival architecture, with detailing largely derived from Perpendicular work at Oxford. The design is believed to have influenced the design of Highclere and the Houses of Parliament. Interior access and close exterior access are not possible. The interior and entrance front are documented by C. Hussey. The manor forms a group with its terrace walls and church (listed separately).