Monument Type(s):

• FARMHOUSE (Early 18th century to Mid 18th century - 1700 AD to 1733 AD)

Summary

An early 18th century farmhouse which was built adjoining the remains of Wattlesborough Castle (PRN 13191). Both were occupied as one dwelling until the late C19.The farmhouse is protected by Grade II Listing.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA6843 - 2004 DBA and building recording of Wattlesborough Tower, Wattlesborough by R K Morriss & Associates

Description

Farmhouse. Soon after c. 1711. Roughly squared and coursed red and grey sandstone with red sandstone dressings; rendered left-hand gable end; graded slate roof. 2 storeys. Plinth, moulded stone eaves cornice, and parapeted gable end to left with stone coping and moulded kneelers; integral brick end stack to left. 5 bays; C19 wooden cross-windows with triplekeyed lintels; central C20 glazed door with heavy rusticated surround and 5-keyed lintel. Right-hand ground-floor window is probably a former doorway (see straight joints and brickwork below cill). 3 windows at rear; raised central first-floor staircase window and blocked stone cross-window off-centre to right. C20 brown brick one-storey addition at rear. Interior: C18 three-flight staircase with winders, rising to attic: closed string, turned balusters, moulded handrail and beaded square bottom newel post. The house was built adjoining the remains of Wattlesborough Castle [PRN 13191] and both were occupied as one dwelling until the late C19. There is an engraving in the farmhouse showing the castle with a probably medieval wing on the site of the present C18 building so the latter probably incorporates reused materials and might even be a thorough remodelling. County A. M. No 126. VCH, vol VIII, pp197-8; Buildings of England, pp33-4; D. F. Renn, Norman Castles in Britain (1971), p341 <1>

A programme of survey and archaeological and architectural assessment was undertaken in 2004 at the site of Wattlesborough Tower. ->

-> The development of this rather rambling medieval complex into a house of sufficient status to be the ancestral home of the Leightons is difficult to assess, partly because the house that possessed 15 hearths in the later-17th century has mostly been demolished. There would only have been two hearths assessed within the tower and perhaps two more in the east range; the other 11 must have been in the house demolished to make way for the present — and clearly smaller — farmhouse.->

-> The departure of the Leightons to Loton Park in the early-18th century led to the building of this farmhouse; it is possible that initially this was designed to be a dower house for Loton Park and that its grounds were well kept. However, it soon evidently became a tenanted farmhouse and gradually the grounds clearly began to become less and less fine gardens and more and more farmstead and productive agricultural land or orchard. <6>

The large square tower has original windows with draw-bars. The second phase is probably C14 and includes a window with cusped tracery and a carved stone head in the SW corner. Illustration of exterior.<7>

Sources

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