Wormleighton Manor House

Description

Fragment of a large manor house, now a farmhouse, built circa 1512 with C17, C18 and C19 additions and alterations. Built of brick in English bond with regular coursed rubble ironstone and ashlar. The tile roof have stone coped gable parapets. The original plan of the building is indeterminate, much of the house is said to have been destroyed in the Civil War. A licence to crenellate was granted in 1512. The associated gatehouse and lodge were built in 1613. (PastScape)

Fragment of large manor house, now farmhouse. c1512, with C17, C18 and C19 additions and alterations. Built for John Spencer. C16 and C18/C19 English bond brick and regular coursed ashlar and rubble ironstone. Tile roofs have stone coped gable parapets; stone and brick ridge, end, internal and lateral stacks. Original plan indeterminate. EXTERIOR: 2 storeys; 7-window range. c1512 brick left range of 2 high storeys, 4-window range. Some flared brick diaper work. Central and right end buttresses of 2 offsets. Entrance in third bay has C19 ribbed door with applied arch and 2 rows of 3 panels, with overlight and flanking panels inserted into bottom half of 3-light window. Cavetto-moulded Tudor-arched-light stone mullioned windows with transoms and hood moulds, mainly of 4 lights, with most lights blocked. On first floor C19 plank loading door inserted into bottom part of second window; hoist bracket to left. Fourth bay has blocked former 2-light window and within it a C19 three-light casement and wood lintel inserted into later doorway. To right: blocked Tudor arch doorway has remains of hood mould. Right end has 3-light C19 casement, with another above, partly in blocked opening. First floor has 4-light window. Right corner has some stone. End stacks. C18/early C19 twin gable range to right. 3-light casements, leaded on ground floor, under cambered brick arches. C19 casements have glazing bars throughout. C19/C20 sash door with glazing bars inserted into remains of 3-light mullioned window in angle. Very large external stack to right has multiple offsets. Bricked-up fire window on left. C18/CI9 brick shaft. Left return side is 2-window range. Left part projects slightly with stone coping dying back into wall above first floor. C16 Tudor-arch mullioned windows with sunk spandrels. Right part has large one-storey 4-light canted bay window with king mullion and splay sills. Tile roof. 2-light windows to left and above. 2 small gables dying into parapet between. Left gable has blind Tudor-arch with carved figure, and kneelers with finials. Irregular brickwork. Right return side has 2-light mullioned first floor window. Garden front is 6-window range; right range taller. Left end of regular coursed stone, centre of rubble, right end of early C16 brick. Large stone and brick diagonal buttress on right. Ribbed door with applied Tudor arch and 2 x 3 panels, flanking panels, and wood lintel, between first and second bays. Similar door between fourth and fifth bays has overlight. Chamfered stone Tudor arch doorway with similar door. Large mid/late C19 stone 2-light canted bay on left has large full length Tudor-arched lights with transom. Crenellated parapet. Irregular fenestration of 2 and 3-light C19 wood mullioned and transomed windows with glazing bars. First floor has 2 carved stone shields, one of the Spencer arms. C19/C20 ridge stack on left. Right range has large internal stack of thin bricks, with 4 square C19 brick shafts. INTERIOR: moulded Tudor arch door. Some moulded beams. HISTORICAL NOTE: much of the house is said to have been destroyed in the Civil War. (Listed Building Report)

Comments

Licence to crenellate granted in 1512 to John Spencer (jointly with Althorp, Northants). According to Dugdale Spencer purchased the the manor in 1506 and 'soon after began the structure of a fair Mannour-house'. This suggests the licence was obtained after the completion of the house or possibly for a 'topping out' ceremony (as is clearly shown with some other houses e.g. Hengrave Hall). This means the dating of the house suggested in the Listed Building Report is probably slightly incorrect.