Ashington Manor

Ashton Manor is a manor house dating from the 15th century onwards. It is constructed of ham stone ashlar with a stone-slated roof, hipped at the east end and with west and north gable ends that have coped verges. Stone chimney stacks with moulded caps are present. The building has a “L” shape, and the two-story south elevation has three bays. A modern central doorway is set within a heavy frame, sheltered by a slightly projecting, flat-roofed porch with a keystoned four-centre arch of rustic design. To the left is an angled bay window of six lights, featuring hollow-chamfered mullions with transoms to the ground floor only, with a single light on the first floor. The gable has an obelisk pinnacle on corbelled kneelers, accompanied by a further three-light mullion attic window with a label. To the right are three matching mullioned windows without labels. A small two-light window sits above the doorway, featuring a wrought iron casement stay. In the south-west corner is a buttress with a string course, displaying a stone carving of a wyvern representing the St. Barbe family. The west elevation has five bays; bay one includes a small staircase projection with small windows. Bays two, three and four feature a variety of hollow-chamfered mullioned windows. Bay five is gabled and has been altered, with 16th and later century windows. Several lean-to additions are present on the east side, including a 20th-century brick addition. Prominent stepped chimney stacks dating from the 17th century are also present.

The interior has been altered but retains notable features, including five 17th-century fireplaces. One fireplace contains sword decoration within the spandrels of the cambered arch. A variety of doors and doorcases are present, including arched 15th-century, and 17th- and 18th-century two-, four- and six-panel doors. Two staircases exist, one stone of the 17th century, and another likely from the 18th century. A portion of wall painting depicting an angel is found in one bedroom. Some internal window stays on the west side are identical to those in the Church of St Vincent, Ashington. The house was originally twice its present size, and the south front was halved with the relocation of the doorway, after 1820. Quatrefoil panels from the former central projecting porch are now set into the walls of an adjacent outbuilding, Magnolia Cottage, located immediately north-east of the manor. The west facade was also shortened. The site has pre-Conquest origins and was under the overlordship of Glastonbury Abbey. Families associated with the manor include de Curcelle, and the St. Barbe family, who held it from 1390 to 1901. From 1722, it passed to the Church Commissioners in 1940.