The Old Manor

The Old Manor is a rectorial manor house, dating to circa 1460-1489, originally commissioned for Hugh Sugar, the Treasurer of Wells Cathedral. Subsequent alterations and additions were carried out in the 16th and 18th centuries. The house is roughcast and colourwashed, with a triple Roman and pantile roof featuring coped verges. There are two rendered, two brick, and a single hexagonal ashlar stack, along with two small, gabled dormers from the 19th century.

The building follows a cross-passage plan, and comprises two storeys and an attic, with a 3:1:2 bay arrangement. A prominent projecting, two-storey gabled bay with coping and a cruciform finial is a key feature. The front features a four-light, hollow-moulded king mullioned window on the ground floor, with similar three-light windows on each side. A detached anta features a pointed head recess on each outer face, along with a two-light stone-mullioned window with cusped lights, quatrefoiled spandrels, and a stopped label, incorporating iron stanchion bars. Simple two-light windows are found on either side, and a single light window is set into the gable face. The remaining windows are primarily two and three-light ovolo moulded stone mullioned windows, most with stopped labels and leaded lights. Single transoms are present on the right two windows on the first floor. A single light window, set in a moulded stone surround, is located directly adjacent to the left of the projecting bay, featuring an eight-pane sash window with a label bearing carved heads as stops. A reproduction ribbed and studded door is set within a moulded stone architrave, between the second and third bays from the left, with a further door located adjacent to the right of the projecting bay. A large sloping buttress is situated to the right of the frontage.

Internally, the house has two moulded cross-beamed ceilings, a stone fireplace with a lintel carved with four quatrefoils, and the projecting bay features a ribbed stone ceiling to the ground floor displaying the arms of Hugh Sugar. There is also a newel staircase and various other minor features.