Description

MOTTISFONT MOTTISFONT ABBEY
SU 3226
12/5 Mottisfont Abbey House
(Formerly listed as
29.5.57 Mottisfont Abbey and
entrance gateway)

GV I

Large country house. Augustinian priory founded 1201, at dissolution went to
Lord Sandys who converted nave and domestic buildings to house 1538-40, S range c1740 and nearly all windows and doors altered with monastic domestic buildings demolished, C19 and C20 interior remodelling. Ashlar stone, brick with stone dressings, old plain tile roof. Plan of N range being C13 nave and crossing encasing and made 2½ storey with principle 1st floor. S range brick, C16, mainly C18 of pedimented centre, flanked by C16 rebuilt mid C19 canted links with C18/19 staircase towers each side. At each end of range projecting stone wings incorporating S transept and chapter house, and cellarium range, all 3 storey with principle 1st floor. S front 3 storey, U-shaped group has central 3 bays of brick with stone quoins, strings between floors and parapet copings. In basement 6-panel door and large square fanlight of circular and segmental glazing pattern. Each side and on 1st floor 12-pane sashes, on 2nd floor 9-pane sashes. Above pediment, lunette in tympanum. Centre part flanked by double projections of 1 bay each. Inner C19 replacing C16 of low 3 storeys with splayed angle and small leaded stone casements. Behind parapet roof hipped against outer. Outer projects further and has full height corner pilaster and similar strings and parapet 12-pane sash on each floor. All sashes in flush rusticated stone surrounds. Sipped roof behind parapet. Each end C18 stone encased tall, wide wings, with to L terrace in front over monastic cellarium, and to R early C20 steps in front over passage to chapter house. To 1st and 2nd floor on ends canted bay with glazed door in stone rusticated surround and Tuscan door-case 12-pane sash each side on angles, and 9-pane sashes on 2nd floor. 2nd floor string and tall parapet. C16 stone stacks on outside wall of wings, brick stack on inner wall, and 3 stacks behind centre roof. Set low on side of R wing is jamb of window to chapter house with mosaic by Boris Anrep. N front encasing of N nave wall and buttresses and transept arch. 6 bays, 2 storey and attic. C16 mullioned windows, C18 1st floor sashes, and pediment dormers. Transept arch has trumpet scallops and Venetian window under, and 2nd floor over with corner C16 stacks. Parapet with ball finials. On E front arch with fanciful trumpet scallops (originally to S chapel). Inside in basement at W C13 blank arcading on S nave wall. To S cellarium, short central circular piers and chamfered
ribs. In centre C16 panelled room. At E between crossing and nave pulpitum made
early 016, 4-centred arch with panelling. To S parts of S transept the archway
into chapter of 3 vaulted bays with wallshafts. On principle 1st floor in N
range in nave main rooms all C19 and C20 with brought in fireplaces and exposed
parts of S windows of nave and chancel arch. S range has passage, C19 staircases
in projecting bays and in W wing 1938-9 Rex Whistler drawing room. In other wing C19 morning room. House given to National Trust in 1957.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Mottisfont Abbey at Wikipedia
• Mottisfont Abbey official website
• Wikidata Q2731378

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

• 
  Huddersfield in 50 Buildings
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)