Bisterne Manor House

SU 10 SE RINGWOOD B3347 BISTERNE

8/8 Bisterne Manor House

30.9.64 II

Manor House. Possibly late C15, early C16, late C16 remodelled mid/late C17 and early/mid C19, restored mid C20. Brick and stone rendered (with incised masonry lines), stone quotas, slate roof. Rectangular plan of main west front facing road, remainder being irregular (on far wall of a west front roof a C16 window indicates original central courtyard). Main front 2 storeys on raised basement, recessed 5 centre bays and gabled projecting wings. Moulded plinth. Flanking wings have gable walls, on outer slope resting on kneeler, inner carried inward as beginning of parapet around front. Below 1½ storey projecting porch, with ramped stone steps parallel to front. LH porch C16 as it gave access to screens passage,it has Compton arms over door, RH porch has date 1652 and Berkeley arms. The doorways are arched openings with stone columns and on parapets over carved recumbent hounds. Wings have 2-mullion transomed windows, and 2-light window to front side of porches. Central part has 3-light mullioned transomed window, each side 2-mullioned transom window. Moulded 1st floor string. On 1st floor similar windows, and 2-light lower set windows, over porches, to end bays Pineapple ornaments built into wall over each window in low parapet with moulded coping. Behind ridge in centre and at each end on wings, large rendered stacks. Inside under front range large rib-vaulted undercroft, late C16, possibly re- modelling earlier. Behind RH porch late C17 heavy staircase. In wing at LH side, in far corner huge C16 fireplace of former kitchen, and early C17 staircase beside. For interior see Country Life; 1955; p240-243, p286-289. Buildings of England; Hampshire; Pevsner; Penguin; 1966; p110.

Listing NGR: SP1511500785