Details
BITCHFIELD AND BASSINGTHORPE
SK 92 NE BASSINGTHORPE
2/3 The Manor House
19.2.52
G.V. I
Country house much reduced, now house. 1568 for Thomas Coney,
with some C19 and C20 alterations. Ashlar with slate roof having
elaborately crow stepped gables with scrolled kneelers,
dentillations to the steps and ball finials. The date 1568
appears in the west gable. 4 tall moulded square ridge stacks in
the form of classical columns, and a pair of tapering square
gable stacks, all with moulded tops and bases with cable fluted
frieze. Probably parlour block added to earlier much larger
house, all traces of which have now gone. 3 bay, 3 storey front
with basement and garret having plinth, 2 moulded strings and
eaves courses. In the basement are 3 two light glazing bar
sliding sashes with double chamfered recessed openings. To
ground floor are single 3 and 2 light windows, 4 centred arched
heads to the lights, roll moulded mullions, deeply recessed
concave surrounds and moulded hoods. To the first floor, to the
left, is a canted oriel window supported on scrolled brackets,
with cabled fluted frieze to base, panelled sides with squares
and lozenges, a 3 light window, a further fluted frieze, a
moulded cornice and above a segmental dentillated pediment
containing a sunk oval and surmounted by ball finials. To the
right single 3 and 2 light windows having cable fluted friezes
and cornices. All these windows have ashlar cross mullions with
raised edges. In the lower projecting former stair turret to the
right is a single C20 2 light window to the ground floor, 2 light
mullioned window to the upper floor, above which is a moulded
segmental pediment containing a rabbit (Coney) the rebus of
Thomas Coney the builder. Above is a rectangular panel
containing Coney's wool mark. Beyond to the right is a C20
panelled door with above a 2 light mullioned window. There is a
further 2 light mullioned window to the garret. In the rear wall
are 2 late C17 ovolo moulded mullion windows, probably
repositioned. The walling here is of an inferior quality and the
existence of a blocked internal door to the right shows that the
house originally continued in this direction. To the right, set
back, are C16 3 light windows to each floor, showing that this
part was the side elevation of a projecting wing. In the angle
between the 2 ranges is a square turret block having a stone
coped gable with cusped gablettes and colonette finial of
medieval character, probably re-used. Interior. The basement
has 2 rooms with a 4 centred arched doorway between,, and
unstopped beams. Elsewhere beams are chamfered with ogee stops.
On the ground floor the present kitchen has a fireplace with 4
centred arched surround. The living room has full height mid C17
panelling and a C16 fireplace surround, ashlar, with pilasters,
moulded surround and cornice. There are 2 similar surrounds to
the upper floors, one with cable fluted pilasters. The oriel
window to the first floor contains reset medieval stained glass
fragments, and has an ashlar shelf on moulded scrolled brackets.
In the kitchen, concealed behind a modern cupboard, at high
level, is a small area of wall painting, on a brick wall,
possibly an eagle, or foliate design, in a lobed lozenge with
interlace edging. The roof has cut ties with braced props.
History. Thomas Coney inherited the house in 1545 from his
father, a merchant on the Calais Staple. His wife, Alice, was
the daughter of Thomas Leigh, Lord Mayor of London. Inventories
indicate that a substantial house existed in 1564, i.e. before
the date of the current building. Given high grade in
recognition of advanced quality of architectural design for which
there are no known parallels. Source: Unpublished notes by N.
Cooper, RCHM.
Listing NGR: SK9661628514
