Description

MARSTON ST. LAWRENCE HIGH STREET
SP54SW (East side)
7/152 Marston House
11/09/53
- II*

Country House. C16-C17, incorporating medieval work. Remodelled c.1730, C19
additions. Squared coursed ironstone and limestone, stone slate roof, stone
stacks. Garden front U-plan, irregular rear and sides. Garden front to south, 2
storeys with attic, 5 bays. Central doorway has Gibbs surround with triangular
pediment and 6-panel door. 2 windows on each side with plain stone frames and
8-pane sashes. Similar windows first floor, straight moulded stone parapet, 2
gabled attic dormers. Gabled roof with central stack. Projecting wings on each
side separately roofed, 2 storeys and attic, 3 bays, have 8 pane sash windows in
plain stone frames, straight moulded stone parapets, gabled attic dormers,
hipped roofs. C19 extension to right, with hipped slate roof. 2 storeys, 5 bays
has 8 pane sash windows with stone lintels. Entrance front on north has
projecting 2 storey centre block of 3 irregular bays with hipped roof. Doorway
with eared architrave, scroll pediment on brackets and 6-panel door with
fanlight. Sash window on either side with plain stone frames. Similar windows on
first floor. Left of central projection on first floor are 2 late C17 two-light
windows with wood mullions and transoms and leaded panes. To right of centre,
one bay block containing staircase has 2 one-light windows with leaded panes on
ground floor, large sash window with arched head above, and hipped roof. West
(right) side is said to have 2 blocked stone mullioned windows, obscured by
foliage at time of survey. Wing projecting left of entrance front: 2 storeys and
attic, 3 bays, with sash windows. Interior: Central block, former medieval hall,
has C14 arch-braced timber roof. Smoking Room on ground floor has early C17
panelling. Elaborately carved overmantel with date 1611 has 4 half columns
decorated with bosses and strapwork, framing arched centrepiece with heraldic
shield, strapwork and carved head. Square side panels with grotesque heads in
strapwork frames. Walls have fluted pilasters of composite order and carved
frieze of rosettes and bosses. Blocked doorway with carved wooden pediment in
wall to right of entrance. Study has fireplace with projecting wall above it
supported on 2 stone Doric columns. Fireplace has early C18 stone bolection
moulded surround. C14 stone head corbels reset around study walls. Drawing Room
fireplace c.1750 (brought from elsewhere), wood and terracotta, has eared
architrave and frieze with swags of flowers in relief. Early C18 open-well
staircase with 3 turned balusters to each tread and tread ends carved with
acanthus scrolls. The newel posts are fluted Doric columns. First floor room has
panelling of c.1600 with frieze of acanthus scrolls. Stone fireplace with
4-centred arch and carved wooden overmantel with blind arcading, strapwork and
crest. Early C18 bolection panelling in bedrooms and first floor corridor which
has C16-C17 stained glass shields with coats of arms of Blencowe family in the
windows. The gardens were landscaped in the C18 and have a chain of 5 lakes. In
a garden wall west of the house is a re-set stone dated 1569. The house belonged
to the Blencowe family from the C16 until c.1955. A west wing was burnt down
c.1920.
(Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.302-2; Robert Taylor (R.C.H.M.) pers.
comm.).

Listing NGR: SP5368342180

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17545465

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings