Description

COMBEFIELDS
SP47NW
6/34 Combe Abbey and bridge over
moat attached to south
06/10/60
(Formerly listed as Combe
Abbey)
I
GV
Country House, formerly Cistercian Abbey. C12 origins with C13, late C16, late
C17 and C19 alterations and additions, in part by Isaac Gibson and William
Winde. Sandstone ashlar with tiled and slate roofs. U-plan. Entrance facade to
inner left of courtyard comprises C15 cloister with C16 additions above. Plank
door within C19 stone porch to centre right. 9 bays of stone C15 four-light
cusped windows with 4-centred arch heads. Buttresses between windows. To far
left a blocked round-headed arch. First floor stuccoed timber-frame and stone
built late C16. 7 wood oriel windows of 4 leaded-lights with mullions and
transoms and gabled heads suppported on consoles. Range continuing forward from
right has second storey of 2 four-light wood casements. Moulded eaves cornice
above. Range opposite entrance facade has remains of late C12 Chapter House with
central arch of 4 orders of shafts and capitals. Arches to either side of 2
round-headed lights within round-headed arch supported on 3 orders of shafts,
the middle paired. To either side a round-headed arch of 3 orders. Blocked arch
to right. Additions by Nesfield built above in 1860's demolished 1925. To right,
remains of C12 warming room rebuilt by Nesfield, with some original details.
Garden front of 2 ranges. To left, 2-storey 7-window range designed by William
Winde, 1680-91. 24-pane sashes to ground and first floor with moulded
architraves and triangular pediments, segmental pediments and flat hoods
supported on consoles. Central first floor window has flat hood supported on
fluted columns with capitals. Central 3-bay section projects forward slightly,
the angles quoined. Pediment above was carved by Howard Pierce. Modillion eaves
cornice. Range to left, and attic storey were demolished 1925. Rainwater heads
dated 1684. Mid C17 wing to right by Isaac Gibson of 2 storeys. Paired sashes to
ground and first floors originally had mullions and transoms, and have moulded
architraves. 3-light stone mullioned windows to second floor gables. First and
second floor windows have hood-moulds. C20 bay to ground floor. Left angle of
range has quoins. North facade: site of William Winde's North Saloon remains.
East facade: site of Nesfield's East range, demolished C20, of which Neo-Norman
arches on ground floor remain. Interior: Clb ceilings in C15 cloister. William
Winde's dining room (1684) has plaster ceilings by E. George. Also wood-panelled
room with Ionic columns supporting ceiling. Alabaster fireplace and panelled
doors. Founded in 1150, Combe Abbey passed to the Harrington family at the
Dissolution. From the early C17 it was the seat of the Cravens until early C20.
(Buildings of England: Warwickshire, pp.23b-238)

Listing NGR: SP4032779758

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Coombe Abbey at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q1113583

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

• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)