Manor House

Manor House. 15th–17th century. Remodelled and enlarged 1904–38 by Sir Edwin Lutyens for Ivor Guest, second Lord Wimborne. Alterations in 1968–9 by Jellicoe and Coleridge. The original domestic buildings consisted of three groups around a courtyard: the dwelling house on the west side; a range to the north, originally separate, now linked to the main house by 20th century additions forming an L-shaped block; and a group on the south side consisting of stables, gatehouse, and dovecote. The east side of the courtyard is enclosed by walls and a gateway with ornamental piers.

The dwelling house dates from the 16th and 17th centuries. A datestone of 1652 on the south side records a remodelling begun but not completed by John Ianson, died 1657. The symmetrical garden front was formed in 1909 by Lutyens, who added a suite of rooms across the east front with central and north-east projections in Jacobean style to balance Ianson's south-east wing. The main block is therefore now double-pile E-plan. It is built of coursed squared ironstone with ashlar quoins, tile roof, and stone stacks.

The west front to the courtyard has 2 storeys and attic in 5 bays. A central doorway has a flat-arched moulded wood frame and an old studded plank door. Regularly spaced stone-mullioned windows have 3 arched lights with cut spandrels and square hoods. There are 3 gabled dormers with 3-light stone-mullioned windows. Coped gable ends have ball finials. A square staircase tower with balustraded parapet links on the south side with the south-east wing of 1652, which has a shaped gable.

An imported late medieval timber-framed house was attached to the north side in the early 20th century. On the north side, the Stone Hall, added by Lutyens in 1909–10, is the full height of the main block with a similar shaped gable. Projecting forward from the Stone Hall is a one-storey range in ironstone by Lutyens, the Dining Room of 1904 (now kitchen), with a bay window added in 1938 and an extension of 1924 in minimal Tudor style with cubic shapes and a large canted bay window. This range ends with a small courtyard divided from the main courtyard by gates and ornamental stone piers. The entrance and exit have semi-circular flights of steps forming a circular landing. At the rear, a half-timbered corridor spans the carriageway and connects with the north range.

The north range dates from the 17th century and was once a separate dwelling. It was converted in the early 20th century to form servants' rooms and nurseries. Built of ironstone ashlar with tile roof and stone stacks, it has 2 storeys and attic in 4 bays. The doorway in the second bay from the right has a chamfered stone frame and plank door. A 3-light stone-mullioned window with flat moulded hood is to the right, and a similar window to the left. A 2-light stone-mullioned window is in the second bay from the left, and an 18th–19th century stone arched carriage entrance is in the left bay. First-floor windows are 3-light stone-mullioned, except for a similar 2-light window in the second bay from the left. Gabled dormers have 3-light stone-mullioned windows. Coped gable ends have ball finials.

Interior: The 16th-century house is a 3-room, cross-passage plan. The hall, with screen removed, has contemporary wall panelling that continues as an overmantel to the stone fireplace, moulded with high-set stops. To either end of this range are open well stairs of the 17th century with turned balusters and ball finials and pendants to newels. Many rooms have panelling, some in situ, some brought in at the time of Lutyens's alterations, including one with good pedimented doorcases. The tapestry room has moulded stone door surrounds and a large fireplace with attached columns and entablature to the overmantel, and niches to the sides.

A service wing by Lutyens north of the house was demolished in 1968. The manor passed to the Catesby family by marriage in the 14th century. William Catesby, died circa 1472, is buried in the church. His son William was Chancellor of the Exchequer to Richard III. Robert Catesby in 1604 financed schemes for Guy Fawkes. In 1612 the manor passed to Bryan L'anson, a London draper, and in 1703 was purchased by Joseph Ashley, also a draper. In 1903 it passed to Ivor Guest, later second Lord Wimborne.