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Summary

Late C16th timber-framed house, possibly incorporating 14th century work

Monument Type(s):

• MOAT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• HOSPITALLERS PRECEPTORY (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1400 AD)
• TIMBER FRAMED HOUSE (Post Medieval - 1550 AD to 1600 AD)

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• EDR2437 - Historic Building Survey, Arleston House Farmhouse, Barrow-on-Trent, by RCHME, in 1990
• EDR1410 - Ordnance Survey Field Report, 26-JUL-66
• EDR2072 - Building Survey of Arleston House, Barrow On Trent, in 1991 (DBR 97) (Ref: DBR 97)

Full Description

Arleston House. An attractive, largely 16th century 2 storey timber framed house rising from an ashlar ground floor, massively buttressed in seven places. The ground floor is supposedly the remains of a 'camera' of the Preceptory of the Templars at Yeaveley (Stydd Hall). To the north of the house is a moat, formerly the capital messuage of the Bothes of Arleston. The upper floor of the house has plainly undergone some rebuilding in brick, and there is a gabled wing to the south. Three fireplaces have four-centred arched heads and may be refugees from the original mansion. The house passed to the Harpurs in the mid-16th century, who adapted it for younger sons. It was later a tenanted farmhouse, which it has remained to this day. (1)

"The church of Barrow-on-Trent (not Barrow in Cheshire, as mistakenly given both in the original and last editions of the Dugdale's 'Monasticon') was bestowed on the Hospitallers by Robert de Bakepuze as early as the reign of Henry II. His son John de Bakepuze confirmed this grant and also gave them land at Barrow which was the origin of this camera.. In 1543 the confiscated property of the preceptory was granted ..to Charles Lord Mountjoy " (2)

"I can find no account of any property of the Hospitallers at Barrow, Derbyshire; but at Great Barrow, in Cheshire, Tanner says 'Robert de Bachepuz having given, temp. H.II the church of this place to the Knights Hospitallers .. Here was settled a preceptory of that order ..which with Yeveley in Derbyshire, was valued 26 Hen. VIII ..'. Two entries in 'The Report of Prior Philip de Thame to the Grand Master ..for A.D. 1338' prove that Tanner is wrong, and that it is Barrow in Derbyshire where the Camera of the Hospitallers was and not in Cheshire; for we have a pension paid them from Swarkstone church, which is decidedly in Derbyshire; and here is an entry of annual rent paid to the Bishop of Carlisle, lords of the manor of Barrow in Derbyshire, by grant of Henry II" (3)

"We believe that the preceptory house of the Hospitallers was situated at Arleston in [Barrow] parish, where there are extensive foundations of ancient buildings. Here would be the residence of the Bailiff of the camera of Barrow ..which seems to have been subsequently occupied by the farmer of the rectory manor. The substantial stone-built basement of a large hall, some 75 ft. by 21 ft., yet remains, apparently of fourteenth century workmanship, supported by buttresses, and this has at a subsequent date been finished in brick and converted into a farmhouse. But this latter work (though perhaps the earliest part of it may be of late sixteenth century date), is subsequent to the dissolution of the Order". (4)

"The Knights Hospitallers had land in Barrow and Arleston; and Dr. Cox is of opinion that the preceptory house ..stood at the latter place. Arleston House bears the appearance of having been built for such a purpose .. Another large building, probably the chapel, formerly stood on the north side of it, but this was taken down some years ago" (5)

Arleston House, a two-storeyed building of L-shaped plan with black and white timber framing, was the Preceptory or Camera of the Knight's Hospitallers in the late 14th century, although the building now largely dates from the 16th century. The south front has 7 buttresses of medieval character and the red-brick upper floor was re-built, probably in the 18th century. Grade 2. (6)

(SK 337298) Arleston House Farm (NAT) (7) The house is largely C16 timber-framed with an ashlar ground floor said to be camera of Stydd Hall. The moat only survives in the SW corner unless the earthwork at SK 3350 2985 is also the moat. It was the capital messuage of the Bothers of Arleston. (8)

Arleston House Farmhouse is a stone, timber-framed and brick house dating largely from the 17th century. The house is reputed to be on the site of a preceptory of the Knights Hospitallers. The earliest part of the present building is represented by the stonework of the ground floor. On plan, this work does not conform to the timber-framed and brick superstructure and on these grounds may be presumed to predate it. However, the features of the stonework do not indicate a medieval date, being generally too insubstantial for a medieval structure. It may represent re-use of stone, perhaps from the preceptory buildings, in the late 16th or early 17th century in the construction of a building of unknown function and form. In the mid-17th century a timber frame was built over the stone ground floor to provide first-floor rooms and an attic. 18th century alterations to the house include the replacement in brick of the framing on the south wall, the addition of a cellar under the rear wing and the provision of a new stair. (11) It is suggested that the house in its present form is the result of a major rebuilding in c. 1718, based on a late 16th century design. (12)

<1> Craven, M & Stanley, M, 1982, The Derbyshire Country House, Volume I, p88 (Bibliographic reference). SDR4305.

<2> V.C.H. Derby Vol 2 1907 76-77 (J.C.Cox) (Bibliographic reference). SDR15983.

<3> Larking, L B, 1857, 'The Knights Hospitallers in England', Camden Society 65, p 233 (Bibliographic reference). SDR3703.

<4> Cox, J C, 1879, Notes on the Churches of Derbyshire, Vol IV, pp 17-18 (Bibliographic reference). SDR11672.

<5> Bulmer, T and Co., 1895, History, Topography and Directory of Derbyshire, p706-7 (Bibliographic reference). SDR3507.

<6> DOE (HHR) S E Derby RD Derby December 1960 28-29 (Bibliographic reference). SDR5280.

<7> OS 1:10 000 1978 (Map). SDR11928.

<8> TPAT, 2585 (Index). SDR15027.

<9> Craven, M. and Drage, C, 1982, Moated Site List (Bibliographic reference). SDR13964.

<10> Knowles, D & Hadcock, R, 1953, Medieval Religious Houses of England and Wales, p240 (Bibliographic reference). SDR93.

<11> RCHME (Royal Commission on the Historic Monuments of England), 1991, Historic Building Report: Arleston House farmhouse, Arleston Lane, Barrow-upon-Trent, Derbyshire, SMR Doc. No. 686 (Unpublished document). SDR20202.

<12> Hutton, B, Derby Buildings Record, DBR 97, 12th December 1991 (Unpublished document). SDR19784.

Sources and Further Reading

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