The Priory

THE PRIORY

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1301832
Date first listed:
07-Jan-1952
List Entry Name:
The Priory
Statutory Address:
THE PRIORY

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1301832
Date first listed:
07-Jan-1952
List Entry Name:
The Priory
Statutory Address 1:
THE PRIORY

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
THE PRIORY

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:
Hampshire
District:
Test Valley (District Authority)
Parish:
Wherwell
National Grid Reference:
SU 39180 40736

Details

In the entry for:

3940 WHERWELL The Priory 9/35 II* 7.1.52

GV

The entry shall be amended to read;

3940 WHERWELL The Priory 9/35 II* 7.1.52 GV

A country mansion of the early C18 with additions of mid C18; altered C19 and C20. Main fronts of stucco; slate roof with some leaded flats. The north and east elevations are classical facades, the east elevation altered mid C20 when the double-height dining room was created. East and west elevations acquireicanted bays at their northern ends in mid C18. Symmetrical east elevation of 2 storeys and attic, 1.3.1 windows, with a tall room behind the centrepiece, with half-octagonal projections at each end. Parapet with stone coping and wood modillion cornice (carried round the ends with modillions), quoins, architraves, 1st floor band, plinth, 3 panels with swags above the taller openings of the centrepiece: the ends are simpler with keys to the plain openings. Sashes; sashes to the dormers, which have leaded flat roofs. The roof is hipped and behind it is a cupola on a square clock tower, with cornice on brackets. The north elevation (incorporating the half-octagon at its east side) is regular, of 2 storeys and attic, 3.4.2 windows, with a taller half-octagonal projection at its west end. Parapet, coved cornice, plain architraves, 1st floor band to the slightly-recessed centre, plinth. Sashes (some Victorian). Entrance porch of a Doric Order with blocking course, entablature with modillions and 2 plain columns forward of 2 pilasters; now filled in with glazing. The general style continues along most of the south elevation, which has walls of mixed stone and flint, with stone dressings: a south-projecting single-storeyed - service wing on the west side abuts the stream, with a stone base wall, flint walls with red brick quoins and band, a tile roof, and mullioned and transomed windows.

The INTERIORS are mostly of C18 and panelled. Hall is entirely bolection panelled with Doric fluted pilasters. An arch, the reveal of which is more simply treated suggesting C19 or C20 alteration, provides a view of the stairs. These are themselves in 2 flights with landings - in a narrow open well, with open string, three barleysugar balusters per tread, and an elaborate tread end - treatment with blocks and consoles. The newels are fluted Corinthian and the panelled dado carries corresponding pilasters. The Library is fully ovolo panelled with an Ionic cornice. The Drawing Room was probably formed in the 1920s or 1930s to take the four large paintings around which its moulded decoration has been designed and which are affixed by bolection surrounds. These paintings are capricci of excellent Continental quality which came from Brook House, Park Lane, (demolished 1933), perhaps at the death of Sir Ernest Cassel to whom the then owner Lady Brecknock was related. High coved ceiling. Black marble fireplace of austere Greek Revival character. Large sideboard with four lion masks and feet to legs. The Kitchen (in the rear wing) is nearly intact as furnished in the mid C18 or earlier with wide-arched fireplace, fitted dresser an curvaceous hanging shelves. The back stair is of 3 flights, dog-leg and closed string, with bulbous column-on-vase balusters, halved on the square newels: it is probably early C18. On the first floor, which was reduced in size when the Dining Room was formed, there are several panelled rooms, with bolection panelling where undisturbed, and contemporary chimneypieces.

The house is on the site of a Benedictine Nunnery (founded c986). The canalised stream from the River Test, turning at right-angles and passing under the house, follows the line created for the drainage of the monastic buildings, and the re-use of stone, as well as some very thick interior walls, are traces of the medieval building.

------------------------------------

3940 WHERWELL The Priory

9/35 II*

7.1.52

GV

The entry shall be amended to read: 3940 WHERWELL The Priory

9/35 II*

7.1.52

GV A country mansion of the early C18 with additions of mid C18; altered C19 and C20. Main fronts of stucco; slate roof with some leaded flats. The north and east elevations are classical facades, the east elevation altered mid C20 when the double-height dining room was created. East and west elevations acquired canted bays at their northern ends in mid C18. Symmetrical east elevation of 2 storeys and attic, 1.3.1. windows, with a tall room behind the centrepiece, with half-octagonal projections at each end. Parapet with stone coping and wood modillion cornice (carried round the ends with modillions), quoins, architraves, It floor band, plinth, 3 panels with swags above the taller openings of the centrepiece: the ends are simpler with keys to the plain openings. Sashes; sashes to the dormers, which have leaded flat roofs. The roof is hipped and behind it is a cupola on a square clock tower, with cornice on brackets. The north elevation (incorporating - the half-octagon at its east side) is regular, of 2 storeys and attic, 3.4.2 windows, with a taller half-octagonal projection at its west end. Parapet, coved cornice, plain architraves 1st floor band to the slightly-recessed centre, plinth. Sashes (some Victorian). Entrance porch of a Doric Order with blocking course, entablature'with modillions and 2 plain columns forward of 2 pilasters; now filled in with glazing. The general style continues along most of the south elevation, which has walls of mixed stone and flint, with stone dressings: a south-projecting single-storeyed service wing on the west side abuts the stream, with a stone base wall, flint walls with red brick quoins and band, a tile roof, and mullioned and transomed windows. The interiors are mostly of C18 and panelled. Hall is entirely bolection panelled with Doric fluted pilasters. An arch, the reveal of which is more simple treated suggesting C19 or C20 alteration, provides a view of the stairs. These are themselves in 2 flights with landings ina narrow open well, with open string, three barleysugar balusters per tread, and an elaborate tread end treatment with blocks and consoles. The newels are fluted Corinthian and the panelled dado carries corresponding pilasters. The Library is fully ovolo panelled with an Ionic cornice. The Dining Room was probably formed in the 1920s or 1930s. High coved ceiling. Black marble fireplace of austere Greek Revival character. The Kitchen (in the rear wing) is nearly intact as furnished in the mid C18 or earlier with wide-arched fireplace, fitted dresser and curvaceous hanging'shelves. The back stair is of 3 flights, dog-leg and closed string, with bulbous column-on-vase balusters, halved on the square newels: it is probably early C18. On the first floor, which was reduced in size when the Dining Room was formed, there are several panelled rooms, with bolection panelling where undisturbed, and contemporary chimneypieces. The house is on the site of a Benedictine Nunnery (founded c986). The canalised stream from the River Test, turning at right-angles and passing under the house, follows the line created for the drainage of the monastic buildings, and the re-use of stone, as well as some very think interior walls, are traces of the medieval building.

------------------------------------

3940 WHERWELL 7-1-52 9/35 The Priory

II*

A country mansion of the C18, on the site of a Benedictine Nunnery (founded about 986), with alterations of the early C19 period. The canalised stream from the River Test, turning at right-angles and passing under the house, follows the line created for the drainage of the monastic buildings, and the re-use of stone, as well as some very thick interior walls, are traces of the mediaeval building. The north and east elevations are classical facades, recast in the early C19. Slate roof, some leaded flats, the main fronts being of stucco. Symmetrical east elevation of 2 storeys and attic, 1.3.1 windows, with a tall room behind the centrepiece, with ½-octagonal projections at each end. Parapet with stone coping and wood modillion cornice (carried round the ends without medillions), quoins, architraves, 1st floor band, plinth, 3 Panels with swags above the taller openings of the centrepiece: the ends are simpler with keys to the plain openings. Sashes: sashes to the dormers, which have leaded flat roofs. The roof is hipped and behind it is a cupola on a square clock tower, with cornice on brackets. The north elevation (incorporating the ½-octagon at its east side) is regular, of 2 storeys and attic, 3.4.2 windows, with a taller ½-octagonal projection at its west end. Parapet, coved cornice, plain architraves, 1st floor band to the slightly-recessed centre, plinth. Sashes (some Victorian). Entrance porch of a Doric Order with blocking course, entablature with modillions and 2 plain columns forward of 2 pilasters; now filled in with glazing. The general style continues along most of the south elevation, which has walls of mixed stone and flint, with stone dressings: a south-projecting single-storeyed service wing on the west side abuts the stream, with a stone base wall, flint walls with red brick quoins and band, a tile roof, and mullioned and transomed windows. Inside, there is a panelled hall, a C18 staircase, and a coved ceiling to the 2-storeyed central room on the east side; some of the panelling surrounds walls of unusual thickness (of possible medieval origin).





























Listing NGR: SU3913140918

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
139761
Legacy System:
LBS

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of The Priory

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 11-Jun-2026 at 04:23:41.

Download a full scale map (PDF)
© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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