Description

This List entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 27/03/2018

TL 43 SW; 2/17

ANSTEY, MEESDEN ROAD (South side),
The Old Rectory

(Formerly listed as: Anstey House)

22.02.67

GV

II

Rectory, now a private house. Later C17 (possibly for Stone family or
Sir Roland Lytton of Knebworth who sold and bought the manor and
advowson in 1666 - VCH (1914) 13), renovated in Early C18, SW extension
and renovation by Rev Maplecroft rector 1784-1806, E part restored after
fire 1959-60. Timber frame roughcast and panelled pargetting. Hipped
steep old red tile roofs with bellcast. A 2-storeys, cellar and attics,
L-shaped house facing N on a moated site. An irregular 3-cells plan
adapted to give a wide through stair hall with cellar below, drawing
rooms on W and services and dining room in E part with single-storey E
extensions. Internal chimney in E part, and former rear lateral chimney
to W part altered to internal stack by SW extension. Irregular N front
with 4 upper windows, 3 lower windows and door off-centre to W. Cross
windows set flush with rectangular leaded glazing (LH Ground Floor window
has "Stally 1767" etched in it), RH 2 windows on each floor flush box
sashes with 6/6 panes. Lean-to on E end. C18 6-panel raised and fielded
door in moulded architrave, with pedimented wooden doorcase on Ionic
pilaster added c.1960 with 2 C18 French ornamental iron lamp brackets. W
front has 2 flush box sash windows on each floor with 6/6 panes above and
triple sashes below. There is a small round window between the upper
windows. Rear has projecting wing on LH with a single storey rectangular
bay window c.1960. 3 hipped dormers on roof of main range, 2 upper sash
windows with a round window between, and a glazed door in the angle. The
interior has a cut string stair with stick balusters, extended to attics
when service stair formerly adjoining to E was removed, after fire
c.1960. Entrance door has filleted ovolo panel moulding of early C18.
6-panel ovolo moulded doors and stopped architraves. Ovolo moulded
panelling in stair enclosure and lobbies on each floor next chimney in W
wing (dentilled cornice in upper lobby). NE chamber has cockspur fastener
to plate casement in leaded cross-window. 2-panel ovolo moulded door with
H-hinges in attic. Butt-purlin, collar-truss roof with squared oak
rafters. Associated with James Fleetwood, Chaplain to Charles II (rector
after restoration, then Bp of Worcester), and Robert Neville author of
the comedy 'The Poor Scholar' made rector 1671 by Sir Roland Lytton. (VCH
(1914)11).

Listing NGR: TL4123932992

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26594880

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

• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]
• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings
• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)