Manor Stead And House Adjoining To North

NX 91 SE ST BEES CROSS HILL (South side) St Bees 12/76 Manor Stead & house adjoining to north (previously listed as Manor Stead & Cross Hill Cottage) 9.3.67. II*

Hall house, now subdivided; Manor Stead was originally storied end and northern property originally open Hall. On documentary evidence, built early C16 (pre 1517) by William Grindal; subdivided and remodelled C17. Outshut added to rear of Manor Stead C19/early C20; former Hall remodelled 1983/84. Coursed, squared rubble with quoins, now pebble-dashed. 45° graduated slate roof with stone copings and ridge. Original mid-chimney rendered. C17 projecting stepped stone chimney to rear of Hall. 2 storeys; Manor Stead 3 bays. Original chamfered door surround to centre has round head. Chamfered stone-mullioned windows with segment-headed lights. 2 of 3 lights to ground floor right are original; others, except small one over door (re-used?), are C19/early C20 copies. On south return, 3-light ground floor window and 2 lights of window above are original. Hall's north gable retains original stone-mullioned window, with 2 segment-headed lights in chamfered surround, under hoodmould. All other windows, except 1st floor right at rear, were inserted 1983/84. Full height stair turret projects at left. Chamfered door surround with 4-centred head is C17; moved in 1983 from extreme right of front where the rebate to top right of lintel carried external stair to door above (both doors later blocked). Internally, Manor Stead retains original 4 king-post roof trusses. Hall roof has 5 trusses, Queen strut and 'A' frame (with moulded brackets) alternating; 3 northern bays originally open to roof. Moulded 4-centred fireplace arch to ground floor rear wall has same mason's mark as C17 door surround. Grisaille wall painting, with heraldic frieze showing Dacre supporters, datable to 1570-83 when Anne Grindal and her husband, William Dacre, lived here; paintings of similar style and date survive in Dacre Hall (Lanercost Priory) and The Ashes (Castle Sowerby). Moulded jambs of large window, probably traceried, survive above frieze (tracery fragments built into later exterior wall). Party wall had service door on left; similar door above into 2-bay 1st floor room or gallery. 1st floor extended and fireplace inserted in C17 after subdivision; stone newel stair added later for internal access. Attic floor inserted and newel stair carried up at later date. Edmund Grindal, Archbishop of Canterbury, born here 1517 or 1519. Dating based on documentary research by John Todd, Solicitor, in 1983.

Listing NGR: NX9714311875