Manor House

NZ 1207-1307 GAYLES MIDDLE STREET (east side)

15/31 Manor House 4.2.69

GV II

House. Very late C17 and very early C18. Coursed sandstone rubble with ashlar dressings, artificial stone slate roofs. 2 storeys, L-shaped plan, with main C18 range of 5 bays, and irregular C17 range at right angles. Main range: west elevation: ashlar plinth, rusticated quoins and first-floor band. Central early-C18 8-panel door with original wrought-iron door furniture, below 4-pane overlight in bolection-moulded ashlar architrave. 24-pane sash windows with thick glazing bars and small panes of crown glass in keyed ashlar architraves with moulded sills. Cyma reversa ashlar cornice. Shaped kneelers, ashlar coping. End stacks, that to left stepped and external. Projecting forward from left end of building a 2-storey wing, most of which is a C20 remodelling of an older single-storey range and not of special interest, but bay nearest main range, containing the staircase, is of special interest, and on its right return has tall round-arched staircase sash window with radial glazing bars, in keyed architrave with large cornice capitals. Rear, main range: central blocked ashlar doorcase with architrave jambs with chamfered banded rustication to their outer sides, and extended lintel with tripartite keystone and jewelled motifs in outer corners; 2 bays of C20 24-pane sash windows. To right, gabled end of older range has glazed door in plain ashlar surround and to its right an external stack. Left return of older range: on each floor a tripartite sash window in hollow-bolection-moulded keyed architrave, and to their right on each floor a small window; ashlar coping. Left return of staircase wing: portico with unfluted Doric columns supporting Tuscan frieze with blocking course above. Interior: William-and-Mary style doors of 6 fielded panels, the central panels being the smallest, and matching window shutters; main ground-floor rooms have early C19 ceilings with marginal decoration which indicates that a cross-passage was then formed from the front door, with reeded decoration to passage and room to left, and acanthus scrolls to room to left; dogleg staircase with elaborately turned balusters; first-floor saloon has bolection-moulded panelling, and moulded cornice which breaks forward over west windows.

Listing NGR: NZ1240407290