Manor Cottage Manor House

WICKEN CHURCH LANE SP7439 (West side) 17/126 Manor House and Manor Cottage 01/12/51

GV II

Gatehouse, converted into farmhouse, now 2 dwellings. Early C17 with early C18, C19 and C20 alterations and additions. Coursed squared limestone, plain-tile roof, brick ridge stack and stone end stacks with brick flues. 2 storeys and attic; 3-window range. 3 unit plan. Former entrance front faces garden to east and has central C20 4-light stone mullion window with hood mould. Hood mould of former carriage arch survives at higher level. Panel with arms of the Spencers of Wormleighton in rectangular stone surround above latter hood mould. 4-light wood mullion window to ground floor left, two C20 2-light stone mullion windows to ground floor right with hood moulds. 4-light hollow-chamfered stone mullion windows to 1st floor with hood moulds. Chamfered plinth, quoins and stone-coped gables with kneelers. Gabled stair turret to right side. Original range doubled to rear by late C18/early C19 range to rear. Further C19 extension to right of rear range (Manor Cottage). Interior: open fireplace with bar stop-chamfered bressumer. Stone fireplace with chamfered Tudor-arched head. Four-light hollow-chamfered stone mullion windows to 1st floor left and right of former rear elevation, now internal. Tudor-arched stone doorway with cut spandrels. Collar truss roof. The manor house belonging to the Spencers of Wormleighton, to which the gatehouse formerly led, was demolished c.1703. Its materials were used for the construction of the Rectory (q.v. Wicken Country Hotel). (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire: 1973, p461; C.S. Dickin Moore: Wicken Church: 1967, p4)

Listing NGR: SP7448039485