Stanton Court

Stanton Court is a manor house of early and later 17th-century date, originally built for the Izod family. It was altered in the mid-18th century for the Wynniatt family, extensively remodelled in the early 20th century by and for Sir P. Stott, and further altered in the late 20th century.

The house is constructed of well-squared, coursed stone with a stone slate roof. The front elevation presents a striking U-shaped composition with turrets set in the inner corners, one room deep and 2½ storeys high, with 2½ and 1½ storey wings on the left forming a large 'Z' plan. The left wing is wider than the right.

The main front has a plinth and features windows throughout with ovolo moulding, mullions and transoms, with mullions only to the gables of the main wings; nearly all windows are 20th-century replacements. A continuous string course acts as a hoodmould to the ground floor windows. The left wing contains an 8-light window with 3 king mullions and a 2-light window to the right return; above is a 5-light window with 2 king mullions and a hoodmould, with a 2-light in the right return. A 3-light window lights the attic, with a parapet gable and parapet to the eaves of the right return. An ashlar chimney with moulded cap rises from the left return.

The centre section has 2-light windows to the front and returns of both corner turrets on all three floors, except the ground floor right return of the left turret. 4-light windows with king mullions occupy the centre of each floor, all with continuous string courses serving as hoodmoulds. At ground floor level in the left turret's right return is a panelled door reached by one stone step, flanked by Doric pilasters with fluted upper sections. The door is topped by a Tudor arch with a strapwork frieze and pediment bearing a coat of arms. Parapet gables with openwork stone finials rising from the eaves mark the front of the turrets; paired parapet gables rise to the centre, where an ashlar chimney rises to the rear.

The right wing displays a 7-light window at ground floor with 2 king mullions, and a blocked window in the left return. Above sits a 5-light window with 2 king mullions and a hoodmould, with a blocked window in the left return. The gable and attic match those of the left wing; two chimneys with moulded caps rise from the eaves of the right return.

To the left of the main front, two slight set-backs mark a 2-storey wing with a 4-light mullioned window of plain chamfer design, positioned above steps to the cellar. A buttress stands to the left, with a parapet gable above. Set back further behind stands a section with a 7-light mullion and transom window to the kitchen, a 5-light ovolo-moulded window above, and a 2-light casement in a dormer, topped by a parapet gable with an ashlar chimney. On the right return, set well back against the house, stands a gateway with rusticated square piers and Doric pilasters, a plain cornice, and moulded caps swept up to a ball finial, with wrought-iron gates between.

The interior preserves several noteworthy features. The hall contains small-sized dust-ledge panelling, a stone fireplace surround, and exposed ceiling joists. A rear room in the right wing retains panelling and a cast-iron radiator cover beneath a window. An Adam-style fireplace with moulded cornice and moulded plaster ceiling (17th century) occupies this space. The front room is probably a 20th-century copy of the rear room. Double ovolo moulding frames the cellar door surround and stone fireplace surrounds bearing friezes and moulded stone shelves; these 17th-century features appear in the front room at ground floor in the left wing, the first floor of the centre section, and in the rear room of the right wing. Stairs in the left corner turret, running from the first to the second floor, date to the 17th century (probably reset) and feature splat balusters and square newels. A moulded stone fireplace surround appears in the front room of the top floor in the left wing. Roof trusses are timber-framed with cross walls.

The original house of five bays with a gabled front and projecting towers in the second and fourth bays was enlarged later in the 17th century when end wings were projected forward to form the 'U' plan. Sash windows were introduced in the 18th century and were largely replaced in the early 20th century.