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Summary

Grade II* listed late 17th century former rectory set within landscaped gardens

Associated Legal Designations or Protected Status

• Listed Building (II*) 1290598: INKPEN HOUSE
• Conservation Area: Inkpen
• Registered Park or Garden (II*) 1000328: Inkpen House

Other Statuses and Cross-References

• National Monuments Record No.: SU 36 SE 27
  SU 3580 6373
• Old Listed Building Ref (pre 1984) (II): Map No 32 17/10 The Old Rectory
  *1695, two storeys attic and basement, red brick projecting plinth, first floor string, moulded and coved wood cornice, hipped old tile roof, symmetrical chimneys. Three pedimented dormer windows, the central dormer with curved pediment. All with two light leaded casements. A seven bay north front, the bays flanking the central bay with narrow windows, wide 6 panelled central door with elliptical radiating and wreathed wrot iron and cast lead fanlight in rectangular opening. Early C.19 surround of pilaster and entablature with panelled frieze. All the windows on this front have been altered in the late C.18 or early C.19. Basement windows segmental headed. East front has one hipped dormer and one four light leaded mullioned and transomed window on each floor. The west front has two hipped dormers and a later one storey and attic extension. Interior may be of interest. See Country Life Vol. XCIII pp. 308, 352. The house was built by Mr. Colwall Brickenden, afterwards Master of Pembroke College, Oxford, who laid out the garden of radiating alleys of beech and yew leading upwards to a view of the downs - see Country Life.

Monument Type(s):

• VICARAGE (17th century to Late 19th century - 1695 AD to 1900 AD)

Full Description

The Old Rectory in Lower Green, Inkpen is a Grade II* listed building, designated under the name 'Inkpen House'. The former rectory is described as being of late 17th century date <1>. It is of rectangular plan and two storeys with attic and basement, built of red brick with a hipped tiled roof <1><9>. It has seven bays on its north elevation, which overlooks the parish church of St Michael. The 1951 listing also mentions the interior with a large central entrance and staircase hall, and notes that the main rooms have contemporary cornices, panelling and fireplace.

The Old Rectory was built in about 1695 by a Dr Brickenden who later became master of Pembroke College, Oxford <3>; he was also responsible for much of the planting in the garden, which is a Grade II* Registered Park and Garden. It is suggested that part of an earlier house, probably 16th century, is incorporated on the ground floor.

The house is schematically marked on Rocque's map of 1761 <10>, Willis's map of 1768 <11>, the Hungerford Ordnance Survey Drawing of 1814 <12> and the Inkpen Tithe map of 1842 <13>. It is named as a Rectory on the First Edition OS map of 1879-80 <14> and as The Old Rectory on the Fifth Edition map of 1972 <15> onwards.

Sources and further reading

Related Monuments

Associated Excavations and Fieldwork

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