Lytes Cary

Manor House. This building has origins in the 14th century, though most of the structure dates from the 15th and 16th centuries. Extensive restoration and extension were carried out in the early 20th century by C.E. Ponting for Sir Walter Jenner.

The house is constructed of local lias stone ashlar with Ham stone dressings. The roofs are laid with stone slate between coped gables with finials, with some later work using plain clay tiles. Stone chimney stacks feature throughout. The building is two storeys with an attic and has a complex plan arranged around a small central courtyard. The north east and south east ranges represent the earlier medieval and Tudor work, the north west range is largely an 18th-century farmhouse conversion, and the south west range was added after 1907.

The main entrance is on the north east elevation, which comprises 6 bays. The first bay is a gable from which projects the chapel, dating to the 14th century. This chapel has a 3-light east window with reticulated tracery in a pointed arch, flanked by angled corner buttresses, with a quatrefoil plaque above. The north return has a matching 2-light window with flat arched head and label, and a pointed arched doorway with poppyhead finial. Bays 2 and 4 are projecting gables. Bay 2 contains a chamfer-moulded mullioned window with 4-centred arched heads to its lights and incised spandrils, a plain 4-light window below without label, and above a 1+3+1 angled oriel window with stone slate roof. Bay 3 has a single tall 3-light window. Bay 4 is the gabled porch, featuring moulded shallow cambered arched doorways with above a matching 1+3+1-light oriel and gable finial bearing heraldic figures. Bays 5 and 6 are the taller farmhouse section, with matching mullioned windows to the basement and above with casement windows of leaded panes set under brick panels and elliptical brick arches.

The south east garden elevation has 9 bays. Bay 1 is an end gable with a 4-light mullioned window; bays 2 and 3 have similar windows with labels to the lower windows. Bays 4, 5 and 7 of the earlier section feature 3-light hollow chamfered mullioned windows, with 2 and single light windows to bay 8. Bay 6 is a square window dated 1533, extending two storeys with a crenellated parapet over pierced quatrefoil ornament and 2+4+2-lights; the arms of John Lyte, builder, are carved between the windows of this bay. Bay 9 represents the chapel, with a window matching that on the north elevation.

The chapel interior retains an arch-braced-collar truss roof and wood fittings of 1631, including the communion rail and rear screen. The porch opens into the hall, dating to around 1450, which also features an arch-braced-collar truss roof with double purlins and cusped curved windbraces, together with a cornice of pierced quatrefoils. A 15th-century fireplace survives, though the windows and 2-storey oriel are 16th-century additions. A projecting staircase stands in the corner between the old ranges, extending into the courtyard.

In the south east range, the parlour was remodelled in 1533 and retains Jacobean panelling with Ionic pilasters and a good chimney piece. Above lies the great chamber, with a barrel ceiling featuring geometrical plaster decoration also of 1533 and considered a rare survival. The 1907 range is said to incorporate carvings from a Wren City Church, possibly St Benet's, Gracechurch. The history and building are well documented in the Victoria County History, Volume III, and in articles by C. Hussey in Country Life, volumes 102, published on 18 July, 25 July and 1 August 1947.