Description

WITCHAMPTON
ST 9806 WITCHAMPTON VILLAGE

13/146 Abbey House

18.3.55

GV II*

Manor House, possibly originally priest's house. Early C16, enlarged at rear
c1860 and to east in 1914. Original range has brick walls with ornament in
burnt headers, and stone dressings, on flint plinth. Tiled roof with stone
eaves courses and coped gables. One brick stack at right end with
battlemented cap. One right end with diagonally set shafts - one rising from
eaves near centre of front, with 2 square shafts and one set diagonally.
Originally of 3-room plan with screens passage. 2 storeys and attic. Moulded
string course at first floor level. All windows with arched lights, stone
mullions, lead lights, and hoodmoulds with shield stops. On ground floor, at
left end, a pair of French doors in original window opening, - remains of
3-light window above doors. Right of this one 2-light and one 3-light
mullioned window. Right of these 2 tall mullioned and transomed windows. On
first floor, at left end, a 3-light window. Right of this a 2-light window
with initials "W" and "R" on stops (for William Rolle, Rector 1505-21
(RCHM)). Small window under eaves. Below the stack a single light window.
Right of this, two 2-light windows. Rear range c1860, forming double-pile
plan. This in C18 style, with present entrance, and sashes with glazing
bars. At right end a service range, dated 1914 in burnt headers, in style
matching the original range. Internally, in original range, parlour, at left
end, has moulded intersecting ceiling beams, - some missing. 4-centred arched
stone fireplace, with early C17 carved oak overmantel. Right of this, the
original screens passage, enlarged, with ceiling beam showing mortices for
screen. Right of this the original hall, has C18 fireplace. Dining room at
right end has deep chamfered ceiling beams and 4-centred arched stone
fireplace. On first floor, parlour chamber has 4-centred moulded arched stone
fireplace. On the rest of the first floor, roof of jointed cruck
construction, with wind bracing suggests this originally one long room open to
roof. Deep chamfered tie beams now in first floor ceiling. In rear wall, 4
centred arched opening with original door, to cupboard, possibly originally
garderobe. C19 rear range has interior features in C18 style. Carved C18
fireplace reset in service range. Probably earliest domestic use of brick in
Dorset. (R.C.H.M. Monument 3. Dorset Vol V. Hutchins. History of Dorset.
III.478).

Listing NGR: ST9890206403

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17537953

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

• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)