Wayford Manor House

Wayford Manor House is a manor house, possibly incorporating medieval fragments, largely rebuilt in the 16th century around 1600 by Charles Daubeney, with William Arnold likely acting as master mason. A north wing was added around 1900 by Sir Ernest George. The house is constructed of ham stone ashlar, with some rendered sections, and has stone slate roofs with moulded coped gables and stone chimney stacks. It is an 'E'-plan building with two storeys and attics.

The west elevation, of five bays, shows that bays 1 and 5 are large projections, and bay 3 is a smaller two-storey projection with a hipped roof. The west front has a plinth and string course, and features hollow-chamfered mullioned windows within wave-mould recesses. The end gables of bays 1 and 5 have 4-light windows, except the lower bay 1, which has pairs of 3-light windows sharing a label. Bays 2 and 4 have pairs of 3-light transomed windows on the ground floor – some lights are blind in bay 2 – and 4-light windows above. A porch has a 4-light window above, and the entrance is marked by an arcade of three semi-circular arches with Tuscan columns and lozenge decoration, similar to Cranborne Manor, screening a cambered arched doorway flanked by shell niches. Above the arcade is a band of lozenge entablature, followed by a coat of arms, presumably belonging to Daubeney, within a frame with egg-and-dart moulding. A sundial inscribed with initials (“JHB”) and the date 1901 is located high in the gable of bay 1, referencing the then owner, L Ingham Baker.

The south elevation is less formal, with four bays, where bay 3 is a hipped projection and bay 4 the tall gable of the crossing. Bay 1 has 3-light windows, the lower one with a transome, repeated on the ground floor of bay 2. Bay 3 has a 4-light transomed window at mezzanine level, and bay 4 has 4-light windows; the attic window is also transomed. Projecting from the ground floor of bay 4 is a flat-roofed wing with a composite window and door unit, and a 3-arch arcade, matching the front porch, facing westward, which is believed to date from around 1900.

The interior, which is inaccessible, is reported to have a remodelled layout. A ribbed plaster ceiling remains in the library, complemented by a fine chimneypiece dated 1602 featuring pairs of Corinthian columns supporting an overmantel with typical Renaissance panels and decoration. A similar ceiling is present in the smaller solar, possibly a medieval room. Much of the remaining interior work is attributed to careful restoration by Sir Ernest George. The architectural details show resemblance to both Cranborne Manor and Montacute House, further suggesting the involvement of William Arnold.