Manor Farmhouse Charlton Mackrell, England

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ST52NW CHARLTON MACKRELL CP MILL LANE (east side) 5/39 Manor Farmhouse 17.4.59

GV II*

Farmhouse. Medieval origins, reshaped in C17/C18, possibly in part by Nathaniel Ireson. Local lias stone roughly cut and squared; small, possibly Cornish, slates in diminishing courses with stone ridge between stepped coped gables, behind parapet on south side; on north slope double Roman clay tiles; stone end and intermediate chimney stacks. 2 storeys with attics; 6 bays of irregular fenestration to south. Upper string course, parapet, thin moulded coping; 2-light horizontal bar casements above; below, bays 1 and 4 have 18-pane sash windows with cast iron glazing bars, bays 5 and 6 have conventional sashes of 20-panes; C20 glazed door between bays 4 and 5; timber lintols over all openings; between bays 3 and 4 and external stone chimney stack with one offset on west side. Entrance in west gable, by a re-located 6-panel door set in recess, with a C18 casement window to right, later casements above. Outshut to rear of C18 date, but with variety of C20 wood and metal casement windows. Inside, in west gable a circular stair, elm linings on stone base. west room has chamfered beams and small cambered arched stone fireplace of c1600 in west wall; windows have Cl9 shutters. Dining room has earlier C18 features throughout: 2-panel doors; bolection mould and fielded-panels, with an elliptical arched recess with keystone and impost in east wall, under which is a wine cupboard; tall cambered arched fireplace in south wall; wall-panels have paintings of C18, with scenes including Glastonbury Tor and the 1709-1755 Eddystone-lighthouse: because of the Strangways connection (Lord Ilchester) the refitting may be by Nathaniel Ireson. In kitchen east gable wall large arched recess for fireplace, with traces of ovens, etc. Stairs in outshut of c1800 date. west bedroom has simple early fireplace, and large mass which could be a bacon curing chamber in west gable; in corner what appears to be an early C17 wardrobe, with wooden pegs inside. Centre bedroom has early C18 door and architrave with 'keystone', and early C18 overmantel to fireplace; C18 doors to corner cupboard. In east bedroom, east gable wall an early C18 fireplace with overmantel and cast iron Regency style hearth, with two flanking keystoned 3 centre arched doorways into chamber behind fireplace, a device used by Ireson elsewhere. Several partitions are of plaster on reed and laths; roof frame mostly collar trusses, but some are queen-post. Thought to be the former manor house of Charlton Adam, and formerly of traditional medieval plan, it was the property of the Strangways family for many years. (Nares, G: Country life, vol CVll, 20 January 1950).

Listing NGR: ST5293328572