Description

SP 82 SW CRESLOW MANOR HOUSE

3/1

25.10.51

GV I

House. Circa 1330, altered c.1600 and mid C20. Coursed rubble limestone with
a little patching in brick and Bath stone; old tile roofs. Hall range has
flanking brick chimneys, each with 3 square brick shafts set diagonally,
that to S. C17, that to N. C19. N. range was originally an open hall, now
partitioned, with taller stair well of c.1600 set into S.W. corner, and the
N. end altered and rebuilt with shallow projection to east. Taller cross
wing to S. has undercroft at E. end, tower attached to S.W., and lower wing
projecting S. at E. end. C20 single storey infill between this wing and
tower. Hall range is now mostly of one storey and an attic and has tall
steeply-pitched roof broken by stairwell of 2½ storeys with restored crow-stepped
gable to front. 3 bays. Left bay has C20 3-light casement with moulded
4-centred arch in first floor gable and wide C16-C17 studded door with
15 panels and restored moulded frame in lean-to porch. Centre bay has C20
3-light casement in shallow lean-to, and 4-light casement in gabled dormer;
stair-well has 2 C16-C17 2-light casements with internally moulded wooden
mullions, C20 2-light casement above, and C20 door. Cross wing projects
slightly to right, with restored crow-stepped gable, 2½ storeys, altered
windows and small brick lean-to pantry. 3-storey tower to far right
retains most C14 detail and has restored parapet, corbel table carved with
fleurons, carved stone gargoyle, and octagonal stair turret with slit
windows. Front of tower has 2 small lancets to ground floor, 2-light
window with stone mullion and C16-C17 hood-mould to first floor, and
restored window with stone mullion and transom above. Rear of tower has
fine 2-light traceried window with 2-centred head. All windows have
restored leading. Garden front of house has similar windows, some with
restored 4-centred heads, and small lean-to in angle between wings with
2-centred chamfered stone arch at entrance to undercroft. Carved fragments
of medieval masonry are re-set into walls of hall range. Interior: small
stone tierceron vaulted undercroft has chamfered ribs and 5 bosses finely
carved with foliage: centre boss also with carved heads. Hall range, now
of 3 bays but probably once 4, retains original trusses with upper base
crucks, heavy moulded arched braces to cambered tie beams and curved braces
to cambered collars. Intermediate upper trusses also have curved braces to
collars. Moulded wind-braces to moulded lower purlins, arched wind-braces
above. Part of roof has collar purlin, and one truss has braced post
between collar and ridge. Floor inserted c.1600 on stop-chamfered cross
beams, the ground floor ceiling with 2 moulded plaster pendants set
diagonally. Large old 2-panelled door to entrance lobby. Small room to
centre front of hall range has re-sited early C17 panelling, now painted.
Fine early C17 staircase has turned balusters, moulded handrail, chamfered
newel posts with ball finials, and string carved with gadrooning. Finely
moulded and stopped wooden doorcases. Original great chamber, now
partitioned, on first floor of cross wing, has C16-C17 moulded plaster
ceiling with large coffers, and wooden fireplace with segmental arch and
panelled overmantel of similar date. Second floor of cross-wing served
as long gallery, part retaining a C16-C17 ceiling with thin plaster ribs
forming lozenge pattern. Tower has moulded reveals to ground floor windows,
arched doorway to E., elaborately moulded spine beam to first floor ceiling,
and upper room with old door and moulded arched recess.
RCHM II p. 94-98.

Listing NGR: SP8116821837

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17526600

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

• 
  Hampshire: Winchester and the North (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]
• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability