Pytchley Manor House

Pytchley Manor House is a manor house dating to 1633 and 1665, with some 18th-century alterations, particularly to the windows. The building is constructed of coursed limestone rubble with ashlar dressings and a stone slate roof. It has a chamfered plinth, quoins, coped gables with kneelers, and three paired gable stacks and one quadruple ridge stack. The overall plan is a “T” shape, with two storeys and attics, encompassing four bays of unequal width.

The west front features a recessed, two-storey gabled porch, centrally positioned, with a Tudor arched doorway and a mullioned three-light casement window above, both with hood moulds. Above the casement is a datestone inscribed “J C 1633”. To the left of the porch is a longer range, containing a glazing bar sash window on each floor, with a hipped dormer above. To the right of the porch, a slightly set-back bay incorporates a six/six sash window on each floor, both with keystoned heads. The gable of the cross wing to the right displays a four-light mullioned casement with a hood mould, and above it, an off-centre six/six sash window, and further above, a central two-light mullioned casement with a hood mould. A single-storey kitchen, with a pantile roof, is located to the right, dating to the 20th century. To the left, a two-storey, two-bay former stable with 20th-century windows stands.

The rear elevation, facing east, is characterized by an off-centre corniced ashlar doorcase with a half-glazed door, flanked to the left by a sash window. Above the doorcase is a hipped dormer. A gabled stair turret, with a sash window on the ground and first floors, is located to the right, followed by a range with three sashes on each floor and two hipped dormers above. The sashes all have glazing bars and keystoned heads. A gabled wing is present to the left, with a near-central three-light mullioned casement on the first floor, and two similar two-light casements above it, and a central two-light casement further above. A blank datestone is also visible above. The south gable features a 19th-century half-glazed door on the left and a two-light mullioned casement to the right, with two similar casements above it, and a flat-roofed dormer higher still. All mullioned windows incorporate hood moulds.

The interior includes a much-restored 17th-century winder staircase with beaded square newel posts, and an 18th-century attic winder staircase with a beaded handrail. The dining room, drawing room, and three bedrooms feature full-height 18th-century fielded panelling, fielded panelled doors, and 19th-century fireplaces. The drawing room has a segmental-headed 17th-century ashlar fireplace with a moulded mantelshelf. The entrance hall features a Tudor arched ashlar fireplace. The south end showcases a moulded span beam with stops. The roof structure consists of a single purlin principal rafter with cellars beneath.