The Manor House

The Manor House is a large house dating from the early 17th century, although it may have earlier origins. It is constructed of coursed limestone rubble with ashlar dressings, and has C19 plain-tile roofs with coped gables and C20 finials. The building consists of a main block and a western cross wing, with a staircase wing and an additional wing to the south, creating a triple-gabled south facade. There are two storeys and attics.

The south facade displays the gable end of the west wing with three 3-light ovolo-moulded stone mullioned windows, each with a cornice. A slightly later central staircase wing features four 3-light windows, with the lower left-hand window reduced to two lights due to the later insertion of a doorway with a gauged stone head. This wing also has a 4-light window with a king mullion, and a sundial in the gable. The right-hand bay, a later addition and slightly recessed, incorporates a 3-light window to both the ground and first floor, and a single-light window above. The west front, altered probably in the early 19th century, has a C20 door within a moulded stone architrave with a pulvinated frieze and cornice, flanked by 3-light mullioned and transomed windows with cornices. The first floor features two 3-light and a 2-light mullioned window. Similar detailing characterises the north gable end of the west wing. The north front of the main block has C19 windows, but traces of several blocked openings are visible, including a doorway to the right.

Inside, a very fine early 17th century full-height dog-leg staircase is a key feature, comparable to that at Burton Latimer Hall. Its design includes a gadrooned string, flat Ionic balusters, panelled newel posts, and elaborate openwork rooms separated by reset C17 panelling. The north room contains an inglenook fireplace within a large main stack, and a richly-moulded spine beam. The south room features a painted sundial on the ceiling. A moulded stone, flat 4-centred arched fireplace is found in the first-floor north room. The main block is divided at ground floor level to form a corridor and two rooms with a flagged floor. A jowled stone fireplace is present in the first floor west room. A datestone, TM/AD 1629, is set in the paving in front of the west door.