Monkton House, Melksham Road, Broughton Gifford, Melksham Without, Wiltshire

Monkton House, Melksham Road,

Wiltshire: Heritage Statement

JME Conservation Ltd.

January 2015

1 JME CONSERVATION

Tel 01225 480 786 E-mail: [email protected] Mobile 07905 019 178 Web www.jmeconservation.co.uk

Research parameters: This Heritage Statement has been prepared to accompany an application for listed building consent for minor opening up works to inform the preparation of applications for planning permission and listed building consent for internal and external alterations to the main house and for the erection of a swimming pool and conversion of a garden building to a pool house at Monkton House Broughton Gifford, Melksham Without, which together with its attached garden walls is a Grade II* listed building in the open countryside.

The purposes of this statement are firstly to provide an assessment of the significance of the designated heritage asset, and secondly, to assess the impacts of the proposals upon the significance of the house, its attached garden walls and setting.

There are other ancillary structures within the historic curtilage of Monkton House including the outbuildings to the east on the garden boundary and northeast on the boundary with Monkton Farm, the garden building to the south and the stepped terraces leading down to the river all of which are Grade II* curtilage listed buildings and the impact of the proposals on these structures will also be considered.

The statement does not provide a detailed historical appraisal of the site, nor does it record in detail the complete architectural development of the building. It provides a proportionate assessment of significance for the purposes of understanding the significance of the designated heritage asset, its setting, and the impacts of the works in order to inform the current applications. This report is primarily based upon a visual assessment of the heritage assets supported by sufficient additional documentary research to elucidate the results of the visual assessment. A full ex- amination of documentary and other sources has not been undertaken. © The illustrations and information contained within this report remain the copyright of JME Conservation Ltd and may not be reproduced without written permission.

JME Conservation Limited Registered Company No 7480523 Registered office No 21, St. Thomas Street, Bristol BS1 6JS Directors: JM Enticknap BA Hons TP, MA Conservation Studies, IHBC; D Haigh BA Hons Arch & Ancient Hist, MA English Local History, AA Grad Dip Cons, IHBC, FSA Scot,

2 Monkton House, Melksham Road, Broughton Gifford, Melksham Without, Wiltshire. Statement of Significance and Heritage Statement.

Brief Description of Monkton House and its setting: There are several histories of Monkton House currently available of which the latest, written in 1993 by Pam Slocomb for the Wiltshire Buildings Record, is the most reliable and includes a detailed history of ownerships. The current assessment differs slightly in its phasing of the building and clarifies the 19th and 20th century history of the site. Some additional archaeological research has also been commissioned by the current owners and information in the archaeological report has been incorporated here – where it is relevant to the history of the building.

Monkton House is a former manor house which, together with Monkton Farm lies in open countryside to the south of Broughton Gifford and west of Melksham between Melksham Road and the River Avon. Access to the site is via a long winding drive marked by a pair of modest stone gate piers with four sided gabled caps. The fields lining the drive are of rough grazing containing mature trees providing an almost park like setting with distant views of the house and adjacent farm. The house only comes into close view once the drive passes between two traditional stone rubble barns after which it opens into a wide circular turning area in front of the house.

Fig 1, The east front seen from the entrance drive. The formal gardens are concealed behind the high wall to the left and the main door is from the south reached via the imposing door into the garden. A door in the right hand gable of the lean-to opens into a small porch for the original front door that now serves the service rooms. The east elevation of the house is set behind a low stone wall enclosing a small paved yard accessed via a small wrought iron pedestrian gate. To the right (north) of the house is a small enclosed area of lawn set behind a stone rubble garden wall 3 that defines the turning area in front of the house and links it to a small stone rubble one and a half storey stable with an attached two storey barn on the north side of the turning area. These buildings are separated by a small field from Monkton Farm which was until the late 20th century in the same ownership.

Fig 2, The stable and barn. Just visible to the left of the lean-to garage are the roofs of the farm buildings be- longing to Monkton Farm which was sold off in 1958. On the left (south) side of the house is an impressive rubblestone garden wall with overhanging moulded stone coping runs from the south east corner of the house eastwards to the low stone wall in front of the house, and then runs at right-angles southwards to the river Avon. The wall separates and encloses the formal gardens

Fig 3, The east front with the stone arched garden entrance to the left. The high wall continues down to the river. The gravelled garden path leads to the current front door in the south gable of this range. 4 on the south of the house from views along the driveway, The gardens are entered through a fine dressed stone semi-circular arched doorway containing a good historic cross-boarded and ribbed timber door.

Fig 4. The south front showing the garden gate to the right and the main entrance with its pedimented doorcase.

The gardens to the south front are arranged as a series of terraces stepping down to the banks of the Avon with a partly walled vegetable garden to the west and lawns to the west and north of the main house.

Setting: Although historically within the parish of Broughton Gifford, Monkton House is now within the modern parish of Melksham Without. Until 1958 the house and its associated farm formed a small estate at the southern edge of the parish almost

Fig 5, The view east showing the open landscape with the access drive just visible to the left, and the river Avon on the right. 5 1km from the rest of the village. Originally a small hamlet known as Little Broughton, which had its own chapel in the 13th century, the estate had been given to the abbey of Monkton Farleigh by 1166. Earthworks within the fields east of the house and higher ground to the north may indicate the site of this hamlet. Until the 20th century most of the fields of Broughton were pasture and the immediate surroundings of Monkton House are predominantly pasture fields within the flood plain of the river Avon, with some mature predominantly hedgerow trees. As a consequence there are extensive views over the surrounding open landscape except on the north side where the slightly rising ground and the spread of farm buildings associated with Monkton Farm restrict views.

Development of the building: Monkton House is constructed of coursed stone rubble with stone ashlar quoins and dressings, with prominent gables to the elevations and stone slate roofs. All the elevations are of two storeys and attics; and although constructed at different times, virtually all the windows have dressed stone surrounds with the same hollow chamfered moulding detail, stone mullions and label moulds. The irregular distribution of windows particularly within the north and east elevations reflect the antiquity of the building.

The east range: Approaching the house from the entrance drive the first impression of the building is of its informal appearance, simple detailing and deceptively modest scale, which is emphasised by the fact that the gravelled forecourt is at a slightly higher level than the house. The house is set behind a small paved yard fronted by a low stone wall.

Fig 6, The east elevation of the east range showing on the left, the buttress and lean-to which replace a projecting range; and a single storey range with a hipped roof added to the right, possibly replacing an earlier two- storey structure. 6 This elevation has stone mullioned windows, a double gable with stone copings and decorative finials, end stacks, and a stone slate roof. A single storey lean-to on the left hand side contains a door in the centre which leads into a coal store, which is lit by a pair of 20th century 4-light casement windows; the remainder of the lean-to forms a small porch, which has a stone mullioned window set below the eave, which looks out into the small paved front yard and an outer door in its glazed north facing gable. The historic entrance door has c.200mm wide boards set within a chamfered frame, above which are a pair of glazed lights set within a mullioned frame with hollow chamfers. To the left of this door, in the adjacent coal store is a single-light round-arched window with hollow chamfers and sunken spandrels, which is of 15th century date, and provides the only light to the pigsty.

Fig 7, The lean-to with the porch door in the gable Fig 8, The porch with the historic front door set in a and the door to the coal store beyond. The buttress stop chamfered doorway with a two-light stone mulli- can be seen beyond, cutting across the window. oned window above. The coal store has a vertically boarded door immediately to the right of a modern window tucked below the eaves consisting of a pair of four light timber casements. Rising to eaves height to the left of this lean-to is a substantial buttress which extends from the south corner of the elevation as far as the lean-to and a window at first floor level.

Projecting in front of the right hand side of the elevation is an open fronted single storey range of stores with a hipped stone slate roof. Set at ground floor level between the single storey range and the porch are two two-light windows; the one to the left is positioned slightly higher and is a later insertion. Above this projecting

7 range and cut by its roof is a low blocked doorway tucked below the eaves line to the right of the right hand gable. It has been suggested by the Wiltshire Buildings Record that this doorway led to a now demolished external open stair or demolished range. The windows have pairs of (later timber) casements separated by a stone mullion set within a hollow chamfered stone surrounds beneath a label mould. The only exception is a single light window at first floor level just below the eaves line at the right hand side of the left gable. This window has a simple stone ashlar surround without a label mould and is a later insertion.

To the left of this later window a vertical break in the masonry indicating a change in construction and the use of a blue lias rubblestone to the left of this break and for the gables above suggests that the left hand side of the elevation was rebuilt when the gables were added.

Fig 9. Detail of the east elevation showing the two blocked openings, over the lean-to and, partly cut by the roof of the projecting single storey range on the right. The single light inserted window at first floor level, the (later) raised ground floor window and the buttress partly blocking the first floor window can also be clearly seen.

The substantial buttress and adjacent lean-to at the south end of the east elevation replaced a range which ran eastwards along the garden boundary. Ordnance survey maps of the site indicate that this happened at sometime between 1900 and 1924. The south wall of this range survives as the garden wall and this incorporates a blocked stone chamfered window opening of late 17th - early 18th century date, which may indicate when the extension was constructed.

8 The principal elevation of the house is currently the south elevation, reached from the formal gardens on the south side of the house, through the imposing dressed stone garden door containing a fine 17th century cross boarded ribbed door.

Fig 10, The 17th century garden gate. Note the blocked window in the adjacent garden wall which is all that remains of a demolished extension.

Looking from the garden towards the house, on the right is the older lower gable of the east range with the current main entrance door set off-centre at the junction with

9 the gable of the west range, which infills the space between the east range and the projecting stair tower on the south elevation of the north range,

The main entrance door surround has a fine moulded architrave with a triangular pediment. It contains a particularly good quality 17th century timber door with an applied large oval strapwork panel, with a central raised oval boss carved with the Thynne family motto, who acquired the property in 1669.

Fig 11, The 17th century front door. The door surround with its pedimented architrave is 18th century.

10 Fig 12, The south elevation with the older east range on the right, the later infill west range in the centre and the projecting stair tower on the north range just visible to the left.

Above the front door in the south gable of the east range is a two light moulded stone mullioned window with metal casements and leaded lights at first floor level above which is a single light attic window all of which are off-centre within the gable which is surmounted by stone copings and a rectangular ashlar stone gable stack with a moulded coping. The windows are located to avoid flues from the gable fireplaces.

The taller left hand gable of the infill range has a symmetrical arrangement of three hollow chamfered stone mullioned windows diminishing in width to each floor with label moulds and dressed stone relieving arches (unlike the rubble stone relieving arches found elsewhere) over the larger ground and first floor windows. The ground floor window has hollow chamfered stone mullions and transoms with leaded lights in direct glazing and opening metal casements below a stone label mould.

At first floor level is a four light stone mullioned window with one metal casement, and three fixed lights, all of which have diamond quarries; and a label mould over. The attic window has a similarly detailed three-light stone mullioned window with a single opening metal casement and with diamond leaded lights and a label mould. The gable with its stone copings has a decorative stone finial.

11 The west elevation of this middle range has a central projecting gable incorporating a tall external ashlar stack set at the south corner. This gable has an awkward relationship with the adjacent stair tower – it cuts the label mould to the ground floor window, and although stylistically similar, the west range is clearly a later addition.

Fig 13, The west elevation of the middle range on the right cutting across the stair tower to the left. The stair tower is of late 16th century date and the infill range is of 17th century date. The south facing elevation of the stair tower has a three light stone mullioned window with hollow chamfers below a triangular label mould at ground floor level and two further similarly detailed stone mullioned windows above. All have later timber casements and are set off-centre below a stone coped gable which has been truncated by the west facing external gable stack of the middle range.

12 The west elevation of the stair tower has an identical stone coped gable that over- sails the roof of the adjacent north range. It has two two-light stone mullioned windows with label moulds each with later timber casement windows lighting the half landings, and a single light attic window above. Although arranged above each other the windows are off-centre within the gable.

The south elevation of the north range is dominated by a central projecting gable with stacks to either side and a single light metal casement window at attic level with an ovolo moulded stone surround and a label mould. To the west (left) of this projecting gable stack the range has a single two light metal casement window in a stone hollow chamfered surround to both the ground and first floors and neither window has a label mould.

Fig 14, The west elevation showing the west gable of the 16th century north range, with the stair tower and later west range on the right. The gable appears to have been rebuilt at attic level in coursed rubblestone. The west elevation of this range consists of a single gable with a stone coping and decorative stone finial and a single centrally positioned window diminishing in size to each floor. At ground floor level is a substantial modern opening containing a pair of four panelled fully glazed French doors with plain rectangular stone ashlar surrounds with outer margin sashes each of two panes, also set in plain ashlar surrounds. The upper pane of each top sash has been altered to form a top hung opening light. The opening was widened when the French doors were added and the label mould was removed at the same time.

At first floor level is a four light stone mullioned window with a label mould with timber sashes to either side and fixed and top hung lights to the two inner lights. At attic level is a single two light stone mullioned window with a label mould with two

13 two-light casements. The masonry changes at attic level with larger dressed blocks changing to more coursed smaller rubblestone, suggesting that the attic gable has been rebuilt.

The north elevation demonstrates the complexity of the building’s development. On the left is the north gable of the earlier east range, with its substantial twin flued gable stack. An exposed timber trimmer marks the position of a substantial external oven whose foundations were located by the archaeological investigation carried out in 2014. Two projecting plat bands define the floor levels and the attic level has been rebuilt in ashlar and incorporates a small oval window with a date of 1647, perhaps indicating when this took place.

Fig 15, The North elevation showing the older east range on the left (rebuilt at attic level) and the twin gables of the north range to the right. The windows reflect differing floor levels and the exposed timber trimmer within the east range indicates the position of a demolished external oven. The gables to the north range are asymmetrically placed within this range and the central gable is slightly wider than that to the right perhaps because it rises from the side walls of the range, whilst the right hand gable is set back from the west elevation. To the right (west) is the twin gabled north range elevation which is set back behind the line of the east range. This has a pair of gables set asymmetrically within the elevation, the slightly wider central gable springs from the outer walls of the range and is approximately a metre wider than the west gable which is set back from the end wall of the range. Both gables have a single centrally positioned two light stone mullioned attic window with a pair of (later) timber casements set below label moulds. Below this the fenestration is seemingly randomly arranged but in fact reflects different floor levels within the building.

14 The westernmost gable has a centrally positioned two-light stone mullioned window to the east side with timber casements in the gable, and a similar off-centre window at first floor level. Adjacent to it is a slightly larger but similarly detailed window with later timber sashes, tucked below the eaves line of the stone slated roof linking the two gables. At ground floor level below but slightly to the right of the two first floor windows are a similarly sized pair of small timber casement windows in stone surrounds with label moulds with stone relieving arches set at high level within the rooms. Adjacent to the right hand window and central within the west gable is a larger three over three light mullion and transomed window with label moulds and with fixed leaded lights below a relieving arch. Remarkably the window is now a blind one with crudely placed stone rubble infill clearly visible through the glass.

Fig 16, The west end of the north elevation showing the high level of the ground floor windows with their slightly narrow relieving arches. It is unclear whether the right hand window has been deepened. The window has been blocked up with stone rubble on the inside. 15 The central gable within the north elevation is set back behind the line of the east range, and appears to have been built onto an earlier wall on the same alignment. A line of stone quoins rises the full height of the gable set back from the junction with the east range. It appears to be on the line of the west wall of that range which is slightly to the west of the gable end. Additional quoins have been toothed in when the twin gabled north range was added on in the late 16th century.

Fig 17, The central gable of the north range note the quoins concealed by the downpipe and the low level of the windows—reflecting the lower floor levels within this part of the building. The left hand window has been enlarged—extending beyond the relieving arch. The low level of the range of the ground and first floor windows in this central gable reflects the low floor levels which match those of the east range. The left hand ground floor window has clearly been widened as it extends beyond the line of the relieving arch. To the right of this is a smaller two light mullioned window with a label mould beneath a stone relieving arch which may represent the original dimension of both windows. Both windows are similarly detailed with hollow chamfered stone surrounds and identical label moulds. The remaining windows are similarly detailed although the single light first floor window appears a later insertion because it lacks a relieving arch.

16 Rising up the left hand side of this gable is a line of quoins facing both ways showing where the masonry of this gable was stitched onto the corner of the earlier east range.

The north gable of the east range has substantial dressed stone quoins and coursed stone rubble at first and attic levels with the floor levels defined by projecting moulded stone string courses. About half way across the gable an irregular vertical line in the stone rubble suggests one half of the gable was rebuilt, perhaps when the external oven was removed. The exposed timber trimmer at

Fig 18, The north gable of the east range projects beyond the line of the west wall presumably because of the substantial fireplace and stack. Note the change in masonry at attic level and the small oval light dated 1647. ground floor level marks where the oven was removed. The gable has been rebuilt in dressed stone ashlar above the second string course and this incorporates a small stone oval headed light carved from a single ashlar block, dated 1647. A substantial stone ashlar stack rises from the centre of the gable. The stone coping

17 runs across the base of the stack and a single ashlar stack rises from the gable with a decorative moulded cap from which rise two rectangular ashlar stacks topped by an overhanging stone cap and two clay pots.

Attached to the east elevation of this range is a single storey rubblestone and stone tiled hipped roofed outbuilding and store that appears to be of 19th century date extends eastwards to the boundary with the entrance drive. A low stone boundary wall defines the boundary between the entrance drive and garden, and continues as far as a one and a half storey stable and hayloft with its adjacent barn that encloses the north side of the entrance court.

Fig 19, The east outbuilding seen from the north. It appears to be of two phases of construction with a vertical joint by the central downpipe. It is shown on the 1886 OS map and contains a store and WC. Interior: The survey carried out by the Wiltshire Buildings Record in 1996 suggested that the oldest part of the building was the east range and that it incorporates 15th century fabric but was largely rebuilt and extended in the late 16th century when the north range and stair tower were added. A 17th century phase of work included alterations to the attics. We suggest that this 17th century work included erection of the central infill range on the south side of the building that fills the gap between the east range and the stair tower but cuts across a stair tower window label mould and the creation of a new front door and entrance passage. 18th, 19th and 20th century alterations updated the house, providing additional bathrooms and contemporary detailing. However the building retains an awkward layout and numerous changes in floor level. Whilst some of these reflect the changing ground level—the site rises to the west - it does not explain the very tall ceilings in the north range at first floor level. It is possible that the tall ceilings indicate where a vaulted or coffered ceiling had been removed in the 19th century.

18 Fig 20. The 1st ed OS map of 1886 shows the house in detail before the southeast range was replaced by a buttress. The garden has a glasshouse and the garden building has two extensions.

Fig 21. The site in 1900. A conservatory has been Fig 22. 1938 The two glasshouses have been demol- built on the SW corner of the house. The buttress ished between 1924 and 1938. appears between 1900 and 1924.

19 The east range has a three room plan form with a room on either side of a central lobby containing the newel stair. The left hand room was converted (after 1938) into a pigsty with blockwork partitions. It had already been sub-divided in the 17th century when the new front door and entrance hall were created when the front door was relocated to the south front. In the 15th century this would have been the best room and would have had a fireplace on the south wall, (possibly the one now found on the first floor room above).

The single light east window in this room appears to have been truncated - originally by an extension and following its demolition, by the substantial buttress and lean-to extension that replaced it. The blocked window in the partition with the entrance hall is likely to have been a former doorway into the room now hidden by the blockwork.

Fig 23, The truncated 15th century Fig 24, The pigsty showing the truncated window, and the 16th century window lighting the pigsty. ceiling beam. On the right is a blocked window—probably set in a former doorway opening into the current entrance hall.

Evidence for the early date of this east range comes from this 15th century single light window with its decorated spandrels, and from the thickness of the ground floor part of the east wall. The first floor structure, with its deeply chamfered ceiling beams, is of early - mid 16th century and the newel stair reached from this central lobby was added at this time. When the new entrance hall was formed in the 17th century this lobby provided direct access into the new hallway until the opening was blocked when the newel stairs were altered in the 20th century.

The north room was the kitchen and this was sub-divided by the insertion of a partition in the early 20th century - presumably at the same time as the lobby entry to the stairs was blocked, in order to provide a separate corridor to the rest of the house.

20 This room was always the kitchen and has a substantial stone arched fireplace with a deep chamfered reveal and a second arched opening to the right which was for a large oven or smoke bay that projected beyond through the gable wall. This had been demolished by the date of the 1st edition OS map of 1886 and the opening reduced. This smaller opening held a second boiler in the 1938 sales particulars.

Fig 25, The two substantial fireplaces with deep chamfered stone arched openings. There was a large external oven or smoke chamber to the rear of the right hand oven but this had been removed by 1886. Note the stop chamfered beam above the fireplaces.

Fig 26, The cupboard to the left of the fireplace is made using mismatched doors (17th century panelling to the left and 18th to the right). In the 19th century a fireplace for the adjacent room was built into the wall behind. 21 The cupboard to the left of the fireplace has a mismatched pair of reused 17th and 18th century raised and fielded panelled doors. The stone arched fireplaces and deeply chamfered ceilings beams in this room confirm the 16th century date.

The newel stair: The upper floors in the east range were served by a timber newel stair, accessed from the central lobby. There would doubtless have been a small window in the rear wall lighting the stairs, and the splay on the wall opposite indicates its likely position. The stairs were remodelled when the new 17th century entrance hall cut across the newel stair which was now partitioned off. The stair may have originally continued down to cellars below, and a reset 16th century timber arched head for a

Fig 27 The newel post showing the empty mortices for the stair risers at ground floor level. On the right is the reset head of the possible cellar door with the entrance boarded over and infilled. 22 doorway survives propping up the remodelled stairs. Modern flooring prevents access to the cellar area which has been blocked off by a lath and plaster partition just beyond the door head.

Perhaps disappointingly we are not persuaded by the 1938 sale particulars that state … A small oak door (the door under the stairs) gives access to the entrance to a former “secret passage” believed in ancient times to communicate with an adjacent monastery, and another interesting feature is the oval inner window.”

It is probable that the first floor rooms in this range were originally accessed from the central lobby as on the ground floor. This changed when the stairs were remodelled to accommodate the new entrance passage, and access was required at first floor level into the new extension. At this level the newel stair only provides direct access into the south room. This contains a fine 15th century fireplace and the remains of 17th century decorative plaster to the ceiling and cornice that is clearly later because it cuts across the decorative cartouches over the fireplace. The brickwork infill and hearth are of mid 20th century date.

Fig 28. The fine 15th century fireplace, perhaps moved from the room below in the 17th century when it was sub-divided for the new entrance passage. The ceiling cornice and other plasterwork is of 17th century date. There is a small wall cupboard in the east elevation adjacent to the two light window. Its butterfly hinges suggest a 17th century date and, looking from the outside, the cupboard is in an area of wall that has been rebuilt - perhaps when the east gables were added.

23 The northern first floor room has a simple stone fireplace with a plain four centred arched head with 17th century stop chamfers and an 18th century mantleshelf. Immediately adjacent to this fireplace is a low blocked doorway in the east wall with a chamfered arched head and reveal partly concealed by a tall mirror. This would have led to an external stair or extension and appears to be of 15th or 16th century date.

Above the fireplace in the north gable is the ghost of a roof truss for a lower roof, and it is suggested that this shows the 15th century roofline and that the low height of the door in the east wall reflects the low eaves height of the 15th century roof. It is likely that the roof was raised in the early-mid 16th century as part of the remodelling of this range, and altered again when the prominent gables were added to the east elevation in 1592.

Fig 29. The North first floor room in the east range, with the 17th century fireplace and the blocked door in the east wall hidden by the mirror. To the left of this door is what appears to be an identical blocked opening concealed by the fireplace. Within the gable wall is evidence of framing associated with the 15th century roofline. attic level the newel stair emerges into a small lobby with a heated chamber to the right, (south), and an unheated attic room to the left. The heated chamber has a coved plaster ceiling with deeply moulded ribs meeting at a central boss. It contains a blocked fireplace with a depressed four centred chamfered arched head and pedestal stopped chamfers half way up each side. The detailing suggests that this room was remodelled when the east gables were added as part of the 1592 work. The roof structure to the north attic bed room retains its principal trusses, although the ridge beams are now missing; the end bay has been partitioned off and has a new roof structure. 24 The historic development of the building: All previous studies of the house have considered that there was a single phase of extension in the form of an L-shape that was earlier or later than the east range depending upon the interpretation of the two dates carved in the building. These are a date of 1592 on a timber corbel in the stair tower and the date stone of 1647 in the north elevation of the east range. Both may have been reset but are appropriately positioned within the building. Suggested phase plans are shown below. They agree with the Wiltshire Buildings Record that the east range was the earliest, which was raised in the 16th century from one and a half to two stories

Fig 30. suggested phasing for the development of the building. Minor changes are omitted for clarity high. The 1592 alterations see the stair tower and north range added, but unlike the previous studies it is suggested that it is only in the 17th century (1647) that the central south facing range is added giving the building its current complex form with several changes in level. Please note the minor 18th century alterations - the doorcase and dining room panelling are omitted for clarity.

25 Fig 31. The shallow vaulted ceiling with plaster ribs and a central ceiling decoration of late 16th century date in the east range reached from the top of the newel stair. The radiator is in the blocked late 16th century fireplace.

The Interior - the later extensions: It is suggested that in 1592 - the date carved on the corbel in the stair tower, the North range and stair tower were added on the west side of the east range (probably replacing an earlier side extension which explains the lower floor level in this area). The next major change came in 1647 when the middle range was built infilling the gap in the south elevation, and the new front door was formed.

Fig 32. The awkward junction between the east range and the 1647 extension is nowhere more obvious than on the first floor where a short 17th century stair links the two parts of the house at different levels. 26 It is suggested that during the 15th and early 16th century the building had a single bay extension on the west of the kitchen - perhaps a dairy, which explains why the ground floor in this area is at the same lower level as the east range. This extension was then replaced or incorporated into the new north range with its projecting stair tower and it is likely that there was a new front door into the new extension - either into the stair tower where the current opening is, or more likely into the current lower hall.

The middle range on the south elevation was a later insertion cutting across the label mould of the stair tower window. This is likely to have been part of the 1647 work which probably also included the creation of the current main entrance at the south end of the east range, and the removal of the south wall of the north range to create the lower hall. The 18th century alterations include the remodelling of the front door and the adjacent dining room, whilst the late 19th century alterations remodelled the service area and the west drawing room.

It is suggested that there were 16th century vaulted plaster ceilings at first floor level similar to those in the attic rooms that were removed in the late 19th or early 20th century and that this resulted in the oddly proportioned very tall first floor rooms over the lower hall. The 20th century saw major roof repairs, the buttressing of the east elevation, and minor remodelling including the conversion of the ground floor store to a pigsty, and alterations to circulation within this range, the formation of the inner glazed entrance porch, the introduction of additional bathrooms and the French doors in the west elevation.

Fig 33. The finely detailed inner porch doors and reset 17th century panelling in the entrance hall, with the 18th century dining room beyond 27 The main entrance opens into a small lobby with well detailed glazed gun-stopped doors of late 19th or early 20th century date. This opens into a narrow entrance hall created (possibly c1647) by subdividing the south room of the east range. It is lined below dado level with reset and much restored 17th century panelling. At the end of

Fig 34. The site of double doors separated by a partition, whose line can be seen in the paved floor. The right hand door opened onto the entrance hall. The left hand door opened into a corridor to the east range and stairs. the entrance passage is a reused door to the cupboard below the stairs. Beyond is the remodelled newel stair, cut through for the new entrance passage. The projecting few steps are of late 19th or early 20th century date, and block the original stair entrance in the east range, which was also partitioned off from the later ranges. Substantial hinges for doors survive, showing that the doors opened inwards and the line of the partition closing off access to the newel stair still survives in the flagstone floor. This additional security presumably reflects the general nervousness during the English Civil war.

It is assumed that this arrangement remained until a new doorway was opened into the dining room adjacent to the south entrance probably as part of the 18th century works. The 1938 sales particulars also refer to a circular window in the entrance

28 hall. This must either have been to light the pigsty or set in the missing partition dividing the entrance hall from the newel stair.

Fig 35. The 18th century remodelling of the dining room with its panelling surviving. The top of the display cupboard to the left of the fireplace has boxed in services running through it.

Fig 36. The lower entrance hall showing the 19th century remodelling dividing what appears to have been a single large room into service spaces. 29 Opening off the entrance hallway is the dining room, remodelled in the early 18th century with its well detailed panelling, although the cupboard to the left of the fireplace has been altered for service runs. The timber floor is a later replacement.

Fig 37. The scullery and adjacent butlers pantry showing ashlar and stud partitions with 19th century joinery , including 4-panelleddoors.

Fig 38. The 17th century boarded door into the central hall, seen from the scullery. The door to the left is 19th C.

30 In its present form the lower entrance hall appears to reflect largely 19th century alterations with inserted stone ashlar and plastered partitions with 19th century joinery; and with a late 19th century corner fireplace in the former Servants’ Room. The exception is the door into the scullery from the entrance hall which is constructed from a reused pair of hinged 17th century plank shutters converted to form a door. The doorframe is 19th century in date. Looking from the entrance hall the door is hung the wrong way round with the hinges fixed to the face of the door and cut through the decorative strapwork and an applied lock that is purely decorative. The panelling to dado height is 17th century but has been reset round the entrance hall with the dado cutting across the door architraves to the dining room and scullery.

Fig 39. The panelled door from the hall showing the hinges (17th century) fixed to the outer face instead of the rear of the door and therefore cut through the strapwork and the added 17th century door lock

The opening into the stair tower, like that into the north range beyond, is a large plain plastered opening without any detailing or skirtings. Both appear to be 20th century alterations and the original detailing is unclear.

The staircase within the stair tower is much altered; the turned spindles survive at attic level, but have been replaced by lath and plaster infill for the lower flights. Looking at the underside of the stairs at ground floor level the lower flights have been largely renewed and there appear to have been two phases of repair. The

31 earlier phase included the replacement of the spindles with lath and plaster and these panels are constructed using handmade nails suggesting an 18th century date for this work. The resetting of the ornate 17th century carved panelled door and surround (with an 18th century dentilled cornice) and of the bottom newel and panelling is likely to have happened at the same time as the panelling in the hall and in the first floor drawing room was reset and this is suggested as all part of a careful antiquarian remodelling of the interior in the late 19th or early 20th century. A later

Fig 40. The reset panelled door and frame now leading to the under stair cupboard. The adjacent section of newel and panelling is also reset. The lath and plaster infill to the stairs replaced turned balusters in the 18th C.

32 phase of repairs to the stairs involving the use of modern metal straps, softwood, and chipboard is clearly of mid-late 20th century date. It is unclear where this substantial finely detailed door and frame came from. Given the blocked late 16th century window in the north wall of the west drawing room, one possibility is that, like the first floor panelled room this was also originally panelled and was a second high status room.

What is unclear is the historic layout of rooms here. It is possible that there was a single large ground floor drawing room until the boarded floor was introduced in the 19th century and the space was divided to form the drawing room and a large outer hallway. It is suggested that the bathroom and store could have been formed in this hall area during the 2nd World War when the house was requisitioned, even though the doors and doorcases are 19th century, because the sales particulars of 1938 do not mention bathrooms here.

Fig 41. The west drawing room with 19th century detailing. The window was changed to French doors and the fireplace changed in the early 20th century. The west drawing room currently reflects the early 19th century remodelling when the north window was blocked in and the floor level raised for a boarded floor. A sketch of 1808 shows three-light mullioned and transomed windows both on this floor and the first floor drawing room, whereas currently both opening have four lights. However this may be because of the perspective, as a sketch dated 1905 shows these the openings having four-light windows. Finally, the 1938 sales particulars show this ground floor opening enlarged to its current size, with the hood mould removed, and the introduction of sash windows. The cornice and picture rail each stop neatly against the enlarged window, suggesting they form part of this alteration. The fireplace is also a more recent design and this was perhaps

33 changed in the early 20th century when the window was changed. It is unclear when these became French doors.

Fig 42. The Buckler drawing of 1808 showing what appear to be deep three-light mullioned and transomed windows in the west elevation.

Fig 43. An anonymous drawing dated 1905, which although less accurate shows four light windows in the west elevation, with the ground floor hood mould still surviving . These had been altered by 1938. 34 Fig 44. The 1938 sales particulars show a wider tripartite window with pairs of sashes to each section. At first floor level another reset 17th century door case, matching that to the dining room in the ground floor inner hallway, opens into the first floor landing. A plain opening leads into a small lobby which in turn opens into the first floor drawing room which has 17th century panelling reset round the walls.

Fig 45. The first floor with the ornate door to the landing to the left and the plain opening to the lobby serving the panelled drawing room in the foreground. The door on the right is a modern one made from floor boards.

35 Superficially an unaltered 17th century room however all the panelling has been reset - although the sections are made up with care, and numerous details - the shutters concealing windows, the small side closet and the inner and outer doors show this was a careful antiquarian exercise rather than a straight forward repair.

Fig 46. The panelled drawing room. Note the upper row of panels does not tie into the lower panels. The fireplace has been reset in front of the panelling, and the vertical infill panels are differently detailed.

Fig 47. Here, the upper panels tie in with those below, but all three doors are hung upside down - and the vertical infill panels round the doors differ - some are moulded others are plain.

36 Given the awkward relationship between the window in the north elevation and the partition, it is possible that the room was remodelled from a single larger room incorporating the adjacent narrow store.

The landing opens into a series of bedrooms set at two levels, and with an altered 17th century staircase linking the two different sections of landing. From the stair tower, the higher level landing a door on the south side opens into a bedroom in the 17th century infill range. At the lower level, doors on the north side serve two adjacent rooms with tall ceilings, a bedroom and adjacent W.C., before the corridor links through into the east range through the back of the newel stair.

Fig 48. One of the two first floor taller rooms. Note the unusually deep window and the 19th century door architrave. Whilst the detailing to these two rooms is 19th century it is suggested that these two rooms in the older 16th century north range were originally one large room with a low vaulted plaster ceiling, like those surviving within the attic; and that these vaulted ceilings were stripped out in the 19th century remodelling, with the ceilings replastered at the higher level.

Until the 17th century infill wing and the first floor landing was constructed, this large first floor room would have been accessed via the now-blocked doorway within the lobby room adjacent to the panelled drawing room.

Attic floors: It is only at the attic level that the historic detailing of the stair tower (fig 47) survives, showing that it originally had finely turned spindles and was of particularly high quality.

37 Fig 49. The fine turned spindles which would have been the historic detail for the stair as a whole and in the distance is a high quality the plank and muntin skeeling cupboard. The board fixed against the wall on the left may cover a small fireplace.

At the top of the stair tower, a newel stair branches off from the main stair into the landing to the attic. It has plastered walls, and high quality joinery, including a plank and muntin partition to a cupboard, and it is possible that there is a small fireplace currently concealed by a board on this landing. To the left (above the first floor

Fig 50. The vaulted attic room with corner cupboards. The use of the small recess below the window is unclear. 38 panelled drawing room) the attic room has a good quality vaulted plaster ceiling, corner cupboards set below the springing for the ceiling, and windows to three sides making this a well lit space.; and the quality of the detailing shows that despite being attic rooms attic rooms these were high status spaces. A plank door on the other side of this landing, leads to two interconnected attics beyond, although these were clearly not intended for occupation as they lack plastered walls and ceilings. The roof structure to these spaces incorporates historic fabric, including a reused mediaeval truss, presumably from the east range or other earlier structures on the site.

Significance: As a Grade II* listed building Monkton House is considered to have high significance. This derives from its early monastic association, the architectural evidence for the continuous occupation of the site; and the high quality of much of the surviving architectural detailing. Externally, the east elevation gains significance from being most publicly visible, and indeed the first elevation of the house to be seen. However the immediate setting of this range with its later extensions and additions means it “reads” as being a subservient range. It nonetheless has particular significance because of the evidence it provides for the antiquity of the range, and the extent of alteration to which it has been subject throughout its history.

The south and east elevations, are considered to have comparable significance. Looking at the south elevation, the scale and symmetry of the later wing is considered to contribute most to significance, emphasising that this range contains the formal internal spaces. However, the most important feature on this elevation is the high quality door and doorcase; this later insertion with its visually-awkward position reflects two phases of alteration, and contributes to an understanding of the series of changes to the house.

The larger windows and symmetry of the west elevation of the north range is similar to that of the south range, and both reflect the importance of the rooms they serve as principal internal spaces. Whilst some harm to significance resulted from introduction of the French doors, this is not immediately obvious in the important views to both elevations from the southwest. From this perspective, the wings are seen in relationship with the stair tower and the arrangement of the architectural forms is both formal and picturesque, making a strong contribution to the significance of the building and its setting within the private garden area.

Whilst the north elevation appears to have least significance, it provides valuable visual evidence for the changes in floor levels, and also for later alterations to the building. The awkward positioning of the windows in this elevation suggests an earlier form of the building which remains unclear and this potentially gives the elevation added significance.

Internally, at ground floor level the later alterations have resulted in most of the floor

39 area being subdivided into a series of small spaces; only two principal rooms remain, both of which have been the subject of later changes. Of these the south dining room has high significance, because of the quality of the early 18th century panelling. The mid-19th century alterations to the west morning room have been the subject of later alterations, although (together with the adjacent hall and service area) it retains evidence of the earlier phases, which currently is only partially understood. In its current form, the rather incohesive assemblage of detailing has reduced its significance, and at best this room is considered to have medium significance.

The kitchen is considered to be the next most important space because it retains the original ovens. Generally, the significance of the remainder of the ground floor relates to the surviving evidence for the changes to the building; this includes the survival of high quality early features (doors and panelling etc) although these have lost some of their significance because they are no longer in situ. Within the north range, the service areas which separate the morning room from the kitchen have least significance, being simply detailed spaces formed from 19th and early 20th century partitioning. Whilst they provide evidence for the arrangement and function of these spaces, their significance remains low.

At first floor level, the Great Parlour is considered to have greatest significance, because of the high quality of the 17th century panelling. Even though a close inspection suggests that this is an antiquarian reconstruction, it “reads” as being designed for the space and is likely to have come from elsewhere within the building (possibly the ground floor south room?). The south east bedroom is also considered to have high significance, because of the quality of the 15th century fireplace, and the associated late 16th and early 17th century plasterwork within the room. Generally, the other bedrooms are considered to have medium - high significance and the survival of the original fireplaces makes a valuable contribution to their significance; although the extent of alteration in the high - ceilinged north rooms means these are only considered to have medium significance.

Generally, one would expect the attic areas to have less significance, reflecting their utilitarian use and also perhaps the presence of lower status bedroom accommodation. In this case, the panelled south east bedroom is considered to have medium-high significance, reflecting the quality of the detailing and of the decorative plaster ceiling. In the attic areas to the north, the plastered room only has medium significance, because it is a less complete decorative scheme, and the plasterwork detailing lacks the quality of that within the SE attic room.

Generally, the quality of the surviving joinery to the landing, including the original boarded boor with its thumb latch, the late 16th century balustrade to the stair and the cupboard detailing contribute most to significance, together with the survival of earlier fabric within the late 16th and early 17th century roof constructions.

40 Proposed opening up works and their impact on significance: The initial phase of works involves the removal of modern inappropriate fittings, electrical wiring and plumbing; modern fireplace infills; and the removal of modern paint finishes from stonework and exposed ceiling beams, in order to ascertain the condition of the substrate. In addition, small areas of plaster will be removed in specified locations in order to ascertain the nature and condition of the underlying structure. These opening up works will also clarify our understanding of the significance of those parts of the building where alterations are proposed.

A detailed schedule and drawings have been provided with the application, identifying the works proposed within each room of the house. Many of the items listed do not require listed building consent but are included for completeness.

A detailed specification for paint removal has not been provided as this will be the subject of paint removal trials undertaken by a specialist consultant.

The principal interventions are as follows: 1) removal of the gloss paint from the internal face of all the stone windows, to allow the stone to breath and the extent of repair to be assessed. 2) Removal of areas of plaster coatings and modern paint/stains from exposed timber beams sufficient to allow the extent of any necessary repairs and the most appropriate surface finishes to be considered. 3) The careful removal of the minimum number of floorboards to allow proper inspection of the underlying floor joists. Where these are found to be defective the area of damage will be assessed and repair options considered. Boards will be numbered, carefully lifted and retained within the rooms from which they were lifted, for reinstatement after the inspection and assessment has taken place. The only exception is within the dining room where it is likely that all the boards may have to be lifted because of the extent of decay round the edges of the floor. These boards may need too be stored in a separate room whilst repair options are being considered. 4) 20th century fireplace inserts and hearths will be opened up to allow options for replacement with more appropriate fireplaces and hearths to be considered. 5) The entire wet heating system will be carefully removed as will the free- standing night storage heaters and all surface mounted wiring and electrical fittings. 6) The opening up of small areas of plaster ceilings and stud partitions to ascertain the nature of their construction, their date and significance where this is unclear and the need for repair. 7) It is also proposed to remove the modern internal window bars which are mid 20th century additions. The historic window bars will be retained.

41 8) The mid-20th century blockwork partitions and linings within the pigsty will be removed to allow preparation of a scheme of remedial works within this room. 9) An investigation of the substantial mid 20th century stone buttress will be undertaken in order to clarify its structural state to inform repair options, and consider how best to address the damp problems that it is causing. Conclusion: The opening up works are necessary to inform the preparation of more detailed proposals for alteration and repair of the building, including how too address the extensive damp problems at ground floor level. They are also designed to inform the replacement of inappropriate 20th century interventions and in the case of the pigsty, to allow the room to be restored to a more appropriate use.

Provided that the works are carefully carried out following agreement of detailed specifications they will not harm the special significance of the building, and provide an essential step towards the submission of a well informed scheme of sensitive repair and alteration of the building as a whole.

JME Conservation Ltd.

January 2015