Description

SS 54 SW WEST DOWN CHURCHPOOL(west side)
West Down
4/216 Manor House (formerly listed as
- Barton Farmhouse)
25.2.65

GV II*

Manor house, late C16 with Cl7 extensions to rear. Squared rubble with granite
dressings. Asbestos slate roofs with tall gable end rubble stacks with tapered
caps, lateral stack to rear left side of main range and kitchen stack with slated
offsets on east side of rear projection. 3-sided rear courtyard plan, the 2 right-
angled projections to rear probably added and later extended through Cl7. Main
range consists of cross-passage with 2-storey porch with large principal room to
each side. 2 storeys. Early symmetrical facade. 5 window range of 3-light
splayed mullions, cavetto-moulded on inner face, that to centre is to the gabled
porch with C19 bargeboards. Square-headed granite porch doorway with sunken
chamfered and stopped surround and hoodmould. C20 inner door. Continuous
dripmould above each of the 2 flanking 4-light mullions. 3 wooden mullions, 1
above 2, on the rear courtyard inner faces of each of the right-angled projections
and a further 3 to the west side of the left-hand projection, with various ovolo
and chamfered surrounds. Principal room to left of cross-passage has ovolo-moulded
muntin screen (original planking removed), heavy stopped and chamfered beams and
impressive four-centred arched chimneypiece with double roll-moulded surround.
Room to right of cross-passage retains complete plasterwork ceiling, not destroyed
as described in original listing, although overmantel and oak panelling do not
survive. The ceiling consists of 3 sections, divided by plastered beams. The
geometrical ribbed design repeated in each section. Fireplace has herringbone
slatework and chamfered lintel with scroll-stops initialled FI and GI to either end
and centrally dated 1624. Dog-leg Cl7 staircase with thick turned balusters to
moulded head-rail and single similar baluster to lower flight supporting moulded
handrail and turned finials to round newels. Plasterwork to principal chambers,
that to east has frieze of acorn clusters and geometrical ribbed design above on
east wall. The chamber at west end has similar friezes at each end; that in gable
wall above delightfully enriched plasterwork overmantel with seated figures to each
side holding strapwork surround to central cartouche with lions heads each side of
figure of Pan with male and female heads above and below. Herringbone slatework to
fireback, and stone lintel carved in C16/early C17 with the descent of the Eyre
family. Cl7 main doors and moulded doorframes to rear corridor and to upper
storey of porch, the west chamber door having unusual rams horn stops to the jambs.
Cl7 roof trusses with morticed collars intact.

Listing NGR: SS5171341986

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17532253

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

• 
  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover