Minsterworth Court And Iron Gates

Minsterworth Court and Iron Gates

A manor house of early 17th-century date, rebuilt in 1783 by R. Goodman of Lydney, with 19th-century alterations and minor changes in the 20th century.

The building has a complex plan. The main wing comprises three rooms on two storeys, with a two-room wing set forward on the right at two-and-a-half storeys, a single-room two-storey extension further right, and an L-shaped single-storey wing behind, all one room deep.

The road facade presents the main block with rough render to the road surface, part built on timber framing. At ground floor, the centre has a pair of double doors raised on two stone steps with nosings, each door with three fielded panels. Above the doors runs a moulded architrave with framed half pilasters topped by leaf capitals. The frieze displays alternate plain and paterae squares, with a moulded cornice. A sash window sits to each side. A plain string course marks the first-floor sill level, above which are three sash windows set beneath a plain parapet. The hipped roof carries two ridge chimneys.

To the right, the forward-set wing has an exposed half gable to its left return. A single-storey quadrant link connects it to the main block, with a small eight-pane sash window to the front above and a two-light casement with leaded lights in the gable. Decorative barge boards ornament the section. The front elevation shows two three-light reserved-chamfer casements with leaded lights at ground floor and two two-light casements with a single-light opening between at first-floor level. Above, the wall rises to form two gables, each with a two-light casement with leaded lights and decorative barge boards terminating in pendant finials. An external brick chimney stands at the right end, with a lower brick wing extending further right.

The garden facade retains smooth render to the main block. A plinth runs along the base, with a slightly projecting centre bay containing a recess. From this recess rises a pair of half-glazed doors on three semi-circular stone steps with nosings, surmounted by a rectangular light. A sash window bay occupies each side. A plain string course marks the first-floor sill level, above which stand three sash windows, the centre having a segmental head responding to the recess below. Plain parapet ends frame a pediment centre adorned with a blind oval. The roof profile matches the front elevation. To the left, a low brick rear wall belonging to the service wing sits slightly set back from the rendered front elevation and displays a sash window and plain parapet.

The tiled roof over the main block is clad partly with asbestos slate.

About six metres in front of the two-storey section stands a pair of decorative iron carriage gates set on wheels running on quadrant rails. Each gate features dog bars, a double centre rail decorated with circles, and segmental bracing to the upper half, all topped with fleur-de-lys terminals. The iron posts carry floriate capitals and long braces. Between the gates, three smaller-section posts connect via wires with a chain at the top.

Interior features include a passage running the length of the main wing's road face, with diagonally-set stone paving, dado rail, and moulded plaster cornice; six-panel doors open from this passage. The centre room contains an Adam-style fireplace with cast-iron grate and moulded plaster cornice. The projecting wing to the right has its ceiling on the right section quartered by heavily-chamfered beams. The first floor of this section was originally a single room but is now divided into six by beams; a corner fireplace with crane survives, and a cast-iron fireback dated 1664 remains in place. The second floor features an almost semi-circular plastered ceiling, with two boarded doors retaining original hinges and latches.

The gabled right wing was originally timber-framed with a jettied first-floor level facing the road. The jetty has been underbuilt with rendered facade, probably in the 18th century, and reuses original windows. This wing formed the end of a larger house extending back from the road, possibly of earlier date; the remainder was demolished and a new back wall built to the yard. An earlier house on the site is said to have been the residence of Gwillam, Rouge Percival to Queen Elizabeth I.