Prebendal Manor House

Prebendal Manor House, Nassington Church Street

A Grade I listed building of exceptional historical importance, with origins extending back to the 13th century and earlier. The house stands on the site of a Saxon aisled hall, as confirmed by archaeological excavations revealing post holes and evidence of a central hearth beneath the current hall floor. The building was substantially remodelled in the 15th century, with a service wing added in the late 15th or early 16th century. Further modifications followed in the 17th century when the hall was subdivided both horizontally and vertically, with major remodelling again in 1730 and the mid 19th century.

The house is constructed of squared coursed limestone with ashlar dressings and a stone slate roof. It is two storeys tall and originally comprised a hall with a solar range to the north (now demolished) and a service range to the south. The entrance front presents a four-window range of mid 19th-century sash windows set under wood lintels. A two-window range to the right, which breaks forward slightly, represents the medieval hall itself. A bay at the far right breaks forward slightly and contains small square squints at both ground and first floor levels. A two-window range to the left dates from the 17th century and later periods. A 15th-century gabled porch sits centrally, corresponding with the entrance to the screens passage. The outer doorway features a cambered tie beam with a carved boss and king post above, flanked by reset carved heads. The inner doorway displays a moulded surround and 4-centred arch-head. A two-stage buttress stands between windows to the right. An ashlar gable parapet separates the hall and service ranges. Three stone stacks rise to the ridge and end of the hall range, while the service range incorporates a hipped roof to the left and a lateral stone stack. The gable end to the right shows evidence of a north range demolished around 1800, and includes a 13th-century arch-headed doorway with a jamb of a similar opening abutting at right angles, along with various blocked openings.

The rear elevation facing the garden presents a two-window range of the hall to the left and an unequal gabled cross-wing of the service range breaking forward to the right. The hall windows are 13th-century two-lights with round heads and 15th-century cinquefoil-headed lights; the left window is a 20th-century restoration. A single-stage buttress stands between the windows. A 13th-century doorway into the screens passage to the right has chamfered jambs, a round head and moulded abaci. Above it is a single-light window with a moulded stone surround. The gable end of the cross-wing features a cross casement at first floor with reset carved heads at the cill beneath a wood lintel, and a single-light window with a wood lintel below. The return wall has a 19th-century casement at first floor and a 20th-century door at ground floor, both under wood lintels. The elevation to the right includes some 19th-century windows.

Interior

The wall defining the screens passage contains two doorways under wood lintels and supports a plaster floor, thought formerly to have been a minstrels gallery. The hall, now subdivided into two areas, has a central stack with an open fireplace and bressumer, probably inserted in the 17th century. A large open fireplace at the north end was probably inserted in the 15th century. A 20th-century staircase with gallery now provides access to the first floor of the hall. Traces of wall painting survive on the wall at the foot of the staircase. The jambs of the windows on the entrance front align with those of the medieval openings. The 15th-century four-bay roof structure was reconstructed in the 19th century. The trusses feature tie beams, arched-braced collars, struts (now missing), and two tiers of butt purlins. The tie beams are double ogee moulded, except that above the screens passage which is chamfered on the passage side.

To the left of the screens passage, the kitchen incorporates the service range, probably subdivided in the 17th century. A cross wall with a datestone of 1743 contains two doorways to each floor under common lintels. The open fireplace in the kitchen has a restored bressumer. The first floor room above the kitchen has a bias ceiling with three cambered tie beams, probably inserted in the 16th century. The roof structure of this space features four bays with collars, clasped purlins, wind braces and cambered tie beams with curved struts; intermediate trusses have collars only.

Rooms to the west of the kitchen are probably 16th-century. A series of three doorways with elliptical heads progressively connect the hall range to this area. A 19th-century staircase stands to the right of this arrangement. Remains of a garderobe survive against the south wall. A large mass of masonry occupies the south-west corner. The first floor room above this area has a fireplace with a square-head chamfered surround. An 18th-century roof features collars and clasped purlins.

Historical context

The Prebend of Nassington was established in Lincoln Cathedral in the 12th century, and its endowment consisted of Nassington Church, its lands and tithes. The house was occupied by the Prebendary and his tenants until 1836, when the Prebend was dissolved.