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Monument Types

• HOUSE (14TH CENTURY AD to 21ST CENTURY AD - 1301 AD to 2050 AD)
• CONVALESCENT HOME (World War Two - 1941 AD to 1945 AD)
• MILITARY HOSPITAL (World War Two to 20TH CENTURY AD - 1941 AD to 1950 AD)
• SANATORIUM (20TH CENTURY AD - 1950 AD to 1961 AD)
• DISABLED PEOPLES HOME (20TH CENTURY AD - 1965 AD to 1993 AD)

Associated Events

• Archaeological Assessment of Landscape Components at Parsonage Farm, Kyre (Ref: WSM35027)

Protected Status

• Listed Building

Full description

Grade II Listed. Country house in landscaped park; sanatorium, then care home, 1950-94; now private house again. 14th century origins; repaired and extended c.1600 for Sir Edward Pytts by John Chaune of Bromsgrove; remodelled for Sir Edmund Pytts by W and D Hiorne, 1753-6. Alterations, 1880-90, were swept away 1938-40 when the present east wing was added and the main north front rebuilt. Some original sandstone rubble walling survives. Mainly brick, rendered to south-west, with ashlar plinth and dressings. Slate roofs, partly hippedbehind plain parapets with ball finials (these survive only at easterncorners) and brick stacks with moulded ashlar caps. Roughly T-shaped plan. Original part lies to west and was probably a fortified house. Circa 1600 a hall was added to the north-east. In the mid-eighteenth century a new south front was added and the west range was remodelled. The building was extended to the east in the late nineteenth century and in the twentieth century the sixteenth-century hall was demolished, a new north front built and further alterations made to the south and east fronts. Two storeys and attic with ashlar plinth and modillion cornice at attic storey level. West elevation: 1:3:1 bays; the central bays break forward slightly and are pedimented. The ground floor windows have moulded ashlar architraves and keyblocks. The outer bays have 15-pane sashes, first floor 12-pane sashes and six-pane attic windows. The central part has large ground floor 15-pane sashes that reach to plinth level, first floor 12-pane sashes and two-light attic casements. The main entrance is situated at the centre of the north elevation and has a large re-sited Georgian style portico of probably late nineteenth-century date. Interior: very little survives of the eighteenth century interiors apart from the principal staircase. This is built of softwood and has a large open well, slender turned balusters, a moulded wreathed handrail, panelled dado and Chinese Chippendale style fretwork detailing. Part of the late sixteenth century stair-case has been re-used at attic storey level and has large square newel posts with shaped finials, moulded handrails and shaped, pierced splat balusters. Kyre Park was the seat of the Pytts family from 1576 to the early 20th century. [1][2][3][4]

Plan, drawing and photograph of house, prior to 20th century changes. [5]

13th-14th century pottery found in flowerbeds to east of house. [6]

Defence of Britain, field recording card of Kyre Park House which was used as a Red Cross Military Convalescent Home in 1941.[7]

SO 62626353 Kyre Park. A small castle or peel-tower, built in the 14th century, incorporated in the west wing of the mansion built between 1588 and 1618 when the tithe barn and dovecote were erected. Alterations and additions were made in 1753 when the gardens were laid out by "Capability" Brown and the circular dovecote was moved to its present site. ( Additional National Record of the Historic Environment Entry Sources: Birmingham and Midland Institute, Birmingham Archaeological Society transactions, excursions and reports Volume 39 1913 Page 55 by P B Chatwin and 'Worcestershire' by F T S Houghton revised by Martley Moore Pages 210-211). [5] [8]

Kyre Park is now (1960) used as a hospital. The tithe barn (SO 66 SW 23) and dovecote (SO 66 SW 27) are scheduled monuments. Provisional List Grade II. (List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest by Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Provisional List) Tenbury RD 1960 5). [8]

Kyre Park, now a hospital (1971), has been frequently altered. The hall has now gone and the exterior exhibits no early features. The long barn, apparently 18th century rather than 17th century, is being adapted as a theatre for the hospital patients. The dovecote is in good condition at SO 62736361. See General Photographs [card index record]. (Field Investigators comments by Francis Kelso Bush on 20th January 1971 during field observations of SO 66 SW 13). [8]

Kyre Park Country house in landscaped park, now (1988) house for disabled. 14th Century origins; repaired and extended circa 1600 for Sir Edward Pytts, remodelled in 1753-6 for Sir Edmund Pytts. Restored and extended circa 1880 with major alterations circa 1940. (List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest District of Malvern Hills, Worcestershire, 18th April 1996) [8]

Kyre Park opened as a sanatorium and nursing home for children suffering from asthma, bronchitis and other chest ailments in 1950. It then closed after just 11 years in 1961. 1965 it became a care home owned by Spastics Society. After closing as a care home the house was converted to a private residence in 1993, gardens open to the public. (Register of Parks and gardens of Special historic interest in England Part 20 District of Malvern Hills, Worcestershire 28th February 1986) [8]

The National Record of the Historic Environment Entry for this building referenced the related object DEB01 Defence of Britain Project. [8]


This record includes National Record of the Historic Environment Information provided by Historic England on 9th April 2019 licensed under the Open Government Licence: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ [8]

Sources and further reading

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