Manor House

This is a detached manor house, likely dating to the 17th century, possibly around 1680, with modifications in the 19th century. The north crosswing was rebuilt in the 19th century to the designs of the then owner, Captain Firth. The house is constructed of ham stone ashlar with a Welsh slate roof, coped gables, and ashlar chimney stacks. It has two storeys with attics and a basement, while the north crosswing rises to three storeys with attics. The east elevation, which faces the road, features seven bays. It has ovolo-mould mullioned windows set within wave-mould surrounds, each with separate labels. The window arrangement includes 3-light bays, 1, 2, and upper bay 3, a 4-light lower bay, an angled 2-storey bay window with a hipped slate roof (1+3+1 lights), a small single-light window, and the end gable of the north crosswing with pairs of chamfer-mullioned windows at each level (2-light to basement, first floor and attic, and 3-light to ground floor), all with labels. Bay 4 is a projecting 2-storey porch with small circular windows in the north wall, and a segmental-arched opening on the south wall leading to an open porch. The porch has a chamfered cambered-arched doorway into the main block, with a 2-light mullioned window above and without a label. All windows have rectangular leaded panes, with some iron-framed opening casements. A long ramp and a flight of six steps lead to the porch. The north elevation of the crosswing, built into the hillside, has single and 2-light chamfer-mullioned windows in recessed surrounds with labels. The interior, which was not inspected, is reported to have a three-room plan with a through passage, featuring 17th and 18th century panelling, original outside doors, several cambered-arched fireplaces, including a large one in the south room, and some chamfered beams with scroll stops. The roof is a 19th-century replacement. It is believed the north crosswing is a rebuilding of the former service rooms. A fireback, dated 1680 and bearing the initials “JS” (for John Stuckey, the manor owner at that time), may indicate the rebuilding date. The estate’s origins possibly predate the Doomsday Book and was held by the Durville family in the early 13th century. The house was transferred to the Fidelity Trust for religious use in 1949, and in 1962, it was taken over by the Community of St Francis, who later opened a small hospital in 1964.