HISTORICAL STATEMENT

MANOR FARMHOUSE 257/259 ROAD QUEDGELEY

Updated 30/05/2014

Contents

1. Historical Statement 2. National Heritage Listing 3. Building Photographs 4. 1922 Site Plan 5. Important features 6. Proposed Works 7. Conclusion

1. HISTORICAL STATEMENT

The area known as Manor Farm, can be dated from at least 1066 when it was given to Durrent the Sheriff of Gloucester by William the Conqueror, and possibly even as far back as 982AD. Later the farm and lands passed to 'Miles of Gloucester' who was associated with Empress Matilda, who became known as the 'six month queen' following her proclamation as Queen in Winchester in 1141, but never crowned. History of the farms and land is a little vague after that date but it’s known that in the reign of George III in 1820, one John Beach, owned Manor Farm and most of the Quedgeley and Hardwicke areas.

The large detached manor house was originally two houses which stand on a large moated site east of the Bristol Road. The house was converted into a single dwelling following the grant of planning and listed building consent, reference 11/00638/LBC, dated 15th August 2011.

Access to the house was formally via a track on the south west boundary leading to a farm gate which led to the main access graveled driveway, across the moat leading up to the courtyard of the house. Following granting of planning permission for the wider redevelopment of the Kingsway Urban Village Development, the master planning strategy gained planning approval to close off access to the main access track for vehicles to the Manor House, in favour of a new vehicular access on South‐ East side of the site. The new access provided direct access onto the main urban centre and residential development. The result of the relocated access was to leave no vehicular access to the original front courtyard of the Manor House. A further result of the Urban Village planning approval included construction of the shopping centre, conversion of a barn into public house, community centre & school.

Land to the South West, North West & North East remained open for community / school use as indicated on the satellite layout below:‐

School

Manor Farm New access

Local Shopping Existing access track

Barn Owl Public House Recreation area

The following photos demonstrate the current setting of the Manor House showing the later surrounding site and on‐going development.

Manor Farm Barn Owl Public House

Photo 1 – Showing Building setting from the Southern Boundary

Barn Owl Public House Manor Farm

Photo 2 – Showing Building setting from South East with Barn Owl PH on right.

Manor Farm former entrance

Photo 3 – Showing former vehicular access in process of being blocked

New access

Photo 4 – Showing building setting from South East boundary (Thatcham Avenue)

Photo 5 – Showing building setting from South East boundary (Thatcham Avenue) with Barn Owl PH on left.

Photo 6 – Showing footpath on South East boundary & close boarded fence on right.

Photo 7 – Showing new residential development towards the South East.

At the turn of the century, the moat was dredged and converted into a boating pond with a cobbled bottom to the south of house. When dredging the moat a bronze statuette was found along with the breastplate and helmet of Cromwellian soldier. Apparently, a house stood on the same site in the mid‐12th Century. The moat is now listed as a schedule monument.

The surviving house is a large two‐storied building with an H‐shaped plan, with a cellar and attic. The southern cross‐wing dates from the 19th century; one room on the ground floor has moulded beams to the ceiling with the room above having carved timber posts. The central block and the northern wing have timber‐framed walls concealed by brickwork or roughcast rendering.

The northern wing, which appears to have been built in the early 16th century, is the more elaborately finished internally. A ground‐floor room has heavily moulded ceiling beams. The upper floor consists of a large room of four bays with richly carved brackets supporting the roof trusses, the formerly open roof being concealed by a later modem ceiling, and two external doorways which are still clearly visible may have led to a wardrobe and an external staircase.

The central block is of close‐studded framing with a continuous rail at first floor level. The rail and the fact that the block contains no indications of a medieval open hall suggest that it was built or re‐ modelled as a two‐storied structure at a slightly later date than the northern wing; a projection on the west side may have housed the staircase.

In 1524 the Prior of Llanthony held his court in the parlour above the hall, in the upper room of the northern wing. It is also possible that the northern wing represents the manor place recorded in 1538, while the newly built house called the farmer's place, from which the manor place was then distinguished, may have been the central block with, perhaps, a contemporary south wing. There is no other evidence of more than one house associated with the manor.

One of the ground floor rooms in the south wing still retain the original plaster , however the ceiling has been replaced with a modern plaster board ceiling with a skim finish.

The Georgian windows still have evidence of the shutters being retained but screwed fixed within the window surrounds.

The dovecot mentioned in the early 17th century may have been demolished then. The house was occupied by its owners in the late 11th century;

In 1915 Manor Farm was taken over by the Government. Land was used to build a Munitions factory, where hundreds oflocal women filled brass shells for the war. The entrance was in Naas Lane. The farm land was used to teach Ploughing and there was a 'Training School in Horticulture' for wounded ex‐ servicemen.

After W.W .W. 1 Manor Farm was taken over by the County Council and divided into 3 farms, the tenants being Mr Phipps, Captain Clarke and Mr Hazel.

In 1922 the house was divided into two dwellings see attached plans.

In 1937 the Air Ministry took more land to build 7 MU Quedgeley. By this time there were only two tenants. The Phipps and the Brooks. The Manor House was divided into two homes.

The Farmhouse which was formerly a detached manor house was subsequently divided into two dwellings.

Considerable renovation works were carried out to the property in approximately 1992.

It is evident that part of the North Wing was rebuilt in brickwork, due, we understand due to a fire in the building in 1903.

Arthur Porter is likely to have been living at Manor Farm in 1532, and he may have been responsible for building the central block. In the 17th & 18th centuries the house was occupied by tenants, and in 1672 it was the house with 9 hearths of Mr Clissold. John Beach built a new cross‐wing at the southern end of the hall in 1811: it has a parapeted, stuccoed south front.

2. National Heritage Listing

3. Building Photographs

PART EAST ELEVATION 16th CENTURY

PART EAST ELEVATION SHOWING EXTERNAL DOOR AT FIRST FLOOR LEADING POSSIBLY TO A W ARDROBE OR EXTERNAL STAIRCASE

SOUTH ELEVATION 19th CENTURY

EAST ELEVATION PART 16th and 19th CENTURY SHOWING ENTRANCE DOOR AT FIRST FLOOR WHICH MAY HAVE LEAD TO A STAIRCASE

SOUTH WEST ELEVATION NEAR ENTRANCE

PART NORTH WEST ELEVATION

ACCESS OPENING INTO THE CELLAR

BRICK GABLE END REBUILT AFTER TIIE FIRE AND 18th CENTURY TIMBER FRAMED ADDITION

GROUND FLOOR ROOM 16th CENTURY WING WITH MOULDED CEILING BEAMS

FIRST FLOOR ROOM 16th CENTURY WING SHOWING EXTERNAL DOORWAY AND RICHLY CARVED BRACKETS SUPPORTING ROOF TRUSSES

FIRST FLOOR ROOM 16th CENTURY WING SHOWING RICHLY CARVED BRACKETS SUPPORTING ROOF TRUSSES AND WALL PANELLING

CEILING CORNICE IN GROUND FLOOR ROOM OF 19th CENTURY WING

4. Site Plan

COPY OF SITE PLAN FROM 1922 APPLICATION FOR ADAPTATIONS TO MANOR FARMHOUSE TO FORM TWO DWELLINGS SHOWING HISTORICAL FARM ENTRANCE & COURTYARD NOT TO SCALE

5. Important Features (See Photographs)

(a) 4 Scattered casements to gable (b) Timber louvered attic vent I gable (c) Lias plinth (d) 6 Panel door with pedimented porch (e) 6 Window 12 pane sash windows (f) Timber framed addition (g) Moulded beams on the ground floor (h) Carved timber post in upper floor (i) Blocked up cambered arched external doors (j) Close studded gable end visible in attic (k) Marble fireplace (l) Ceiling cornice

6. PROPOSED WORKS

The proposed works in these applications are to address the points noted in the enforcement notice 12/00125/ECOU & are limited to the following:‐

a) Temporary retention of a close boarded fence on the south east boundary (See photo below)

The close board fence was erected during December 2012 on the south‐east boundary by the building owner to screen the Barn Yard area from the adjacent footpath and to provide security to stored building materials. The fencing comprised of 1.8m high posts set on the back kerb line and faced with vertically placed feather edged treated softwood boarding.

The style of fencing constructed is not considered appropriate in this context due to the designated heritage assets, it is intended that this is removed and a wall is rebuilt using matching bricks.

The intention of the standalone planning application is to seek retention of the fence for a twelve month period pending preparation of a further planning application for redevelopment of the adjacent barns.

Close boarded fence adjacent to new footway

b) Construction of boundary wall to the south east boundary adjacent Thatcham Avenue.

The boundary wall was commenced to provide a boundary to the Manor Farm site following construction of the new public access road, adjacent shops, public house & community centre.

The wall is partially constructed using reclaimed brickwork but construction was halted due to the issued enforcement notice. We understand that the reclaimed bricks being used are acceptable; however planning permission of the wall adjacent to the highway was not sought.

This application seeks to construct a low boundary wall to follow the back of footpath line and boundary and incorporate iron gates to the main entrance. The wall will be constructed using reclaimed bricks with an appropriate reconstructed stone coping or half rounded coping brick.

The boundary wall is to be 1200mm high approximately rising to 1800 mm adjacent to the entrance gates, maintaining visibility to the building from the highway generally and setting of the building.

The photograph below indicates the boundary wall in the process of construction prior to issue of the enforcement notice.

c) Construction of no‐dig access into site with car parking.

A temporary driveway has been constructed into the site using a no dig construction. The purpose of the driveway & car park is to provide access into the rear of the site and link into the original driveway & courtyard located to the front of the site. Car parking for domestic purposes will be located in the original courtyard whilst parking associated with the proposed business use will be located to the North East corner of the site away from the main eyeline as viewed from Thatcham Avenue.

The new driveway & parking will be constructed of MOT Type 1, stone on Terram geotextile membrane to preserve the underlying ground on the site of the ancient monument. The stone will be surface dressed with a decorative gravel finish. The car parking area is to be softened with landscaping.

The following photos indicate progress of the new access with a no dig construction as noted earlier.

Driveway adjacent to Thatcham Avenue access point

Driveway adjacent to office outbuildings

Driveway adjacent to office outbuildings looking towards proposed parking area.

Driveway towards office outbuilding from proposed parking area

d) Change of use of out‐buildings to ancillary B1 Office use.

The original out‐buildings on the North West boundary are currently being used for B1a Office purposes ancillary to the use of the house. Minimal works to the out‐buildings were undertaken by the building owner. The works comprised of making good & painting ceilings & walls, waxing of original exposed timber beams & installation of laid over floor finishes to preserve existing finishes below. The business does generate some parking requirement on the site which is addressed in section (c) above. The original door into the out‐buildings was retained & preserved.

Proposed Office entrance using existing doorway

Existing side door to proposed Office.

7. Conclusion

The proposed planning application seeks to improve the building setting and use of the building going forward. The proposals do not involve any internal alterations and do not have any detrimental effect on the historic nature of the building.

No alterations are proposed or intended to the external features or fenestration of the property.

End of Document