More information : (TQ 81952510) The half-timbered old Manor House (1) at Dixter was built about the third quarter of the 15th C.(2) It was evidently preceded by an earlier house surrounded by a moat, parts of which still remained in 1909..(1)
In 1910 it was restored and had another complete timber framed house (from Benenden, Kent) built on to the rear.(2)
Detailed architectural description and good photos.(3) (1-3)
Great Dixter is an outstanding example of a 15th C timber-framed house with fine hall open to the roof. There is no trace of the earlier house, but a depression to the rear of the present house could indicate the course of the former moat. See ground
photograph. (4)
I Great Dixter
This house was restored and arranged in its present fashion by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1910-1912 for Nathaniel Lloyd, the author of "The History of the English House" and other standard works. It is in 3 parts. The North West wing is a timber-framed hall-house of unusually fine proportions and preservation, 1464-1479 circa. The South East wing is a house a similar type but smaller size which was brought here from Benenden in Kent and re-erected. The North East wing is a Lutyens addition containing the offices built on the site of the buttery wing of the orginal house, demolished before 1909. The original portion of the house is close-studded. The first fl. of the North Western-most w. bay on the entrance front oversails on the protruding ends of the fl. joists. It has a gable above with scalloped bargeboards. At the other end of the front is a 2 s.gabled porch with its first fl. oversailing on a bressummer and brackets, the ground fl. with open arcaded sides. Two tiers of 5 ws. made up of thin round-headed lights. The garden front has wide overhanging eaves supported on brackets and a projecting tile hung portion at the North West end. The end wall has a massive sandstone chimney breast. Tiled roof. Inside, the subsequently-inserted first fl. has been removed from the hall, and both this and the solar at the North West end have their
original king-post roofs, the former also hammer beams The Benenden house is also close-studded. Its East front is jettied on the protruding ends of the fl. joists. Tiled roof. Original ws. with wooden mullions. 2 s. 3 w. The modern wing added by Lutyens is of red brick on the ground fl. and tile hung above. Tiled roof. 2 s. 4 w. Illustrated in "Country Life" Vol. 33, page 18, The Victoria County History Vol. 9, the official Biography of Lutyens, the Sussex County Magazine, Vol. 3, p. 6. and the Sussex Archaeological Collections, Vol. 52, p. 132. (5)
LIsted by Cathcart King. (7)
|