Rookley Manor, Hampshire
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| Rookley Manor | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
 Interactive map of the Rookley Manor area | |
| Alternative names | Rookley House |
| General information | |
| Status | For sale |
| Architectural style | Medieval/Gothic architecture[1] |
| Location | Up Somborne, Hampshire, Strawberry Lane, Kings Somborne, SO20 6QX, England |
| Coordinates | 51°05′34″N 1°26′12″W / 51.0927°N 1.4367°W |
| Construction started | Late-15th century |
| Renovated | 18th century[1] |
| Height | |
| Roof | Hipped roof |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Late-Medieval timber frame[1] |
| Material | Wood frame, extensive 18th century recladding in brick and render[1] |
| Floor count | 2 plus attic |
| Floor area | 9,399 square feet (873.2 m2)[2] |
| Grounds | 10.65 acres (4.31 ha)[2] |
| Design and construction | |
| Awards and prizes | Grade II* listed[1] |
Rookley Manor is a Grade II* listed country house, located in Up Somborne in Hampshire, England.[1]
Located within the fertile Test Valley as part of the parish of Godshill, Hampshire, it was first established as la Spaund Manor prior to 1203,[3] under the control of the de Aula family.[4] By the middle of the 13th century, it was owned by William Russell, the Lord of Yaverland, leased to his nobleman John Rivers. By 1280 it was owned by William's son Richard Russell, who by 1316 had passed it to Barton Priory possibly for use as an Oratory;[4] the hamlet still to this day has never had a church.[3] By 1431 it was leased by John Roucle, who changed his name to the more anglophile John Rookley.[4] Most of the present day farms surrounding the current hamlet of Rookley were first noted in the Middle Ages, but all were associated with the original manor house.[3] At some point, the estate fell into the ownership of the Worsley baronets of Appuldurcombe House.[4]
Structure
Although the current two-storey property is dated by some from the early 18th century,[2] the core of the house is constructed around a late-Medieval timber frame farmhouse structure, dating it to the late 15th century and possibly as late as 1670,[1][5] which has latterly been extensively reclad.[1]
The rendered southwest facade dates from 1707, whilst the front which faces southeast was reconstructed in the late 1700s in a rough-rendered gothic architecture form.[1][2] The north side is painted red brick,[1] in English bond pattern which exposes the original timber frame,[1][6] and is linked to a single-storey service wing.[1] The whole house is topped by a hipped roof, into which windows on some sides extended, mainly using Yorkshire-style sash windows.[1]
Internally entranced through a centrally located open porch on an extending angular bay,[1][6] the four-panelled door leads to a marble-floored entrance hall and 17th century oak staircase.[1] Many of the rooms retain 18th century fireplaces, whilst the main bedroom retains both its fireplace and complete oak panelling.[1][2][6]
Externally, a 20th-century two-storey addition on the north links to an 18th-century two-storey cottage, which further extends to a similarly dated single-storey stable block. All are constructed in matching Flemish bond red brick, with casement windows.[2][6] There are farming buildings, two walled gardens, two apple orchards and a Lime tree-lined avenue in the immediate surrounding 10.65 acres (4.31 ha) of grounds.[2] From 1795 enclosure of the surrounding farm lands had started to occur, and by 1837 the manor grounds including the associated farm were listed as having a total size of 698 acres (282 ha).[7]
First listed in 1955,[6] the farmhouse became Grade II* listed in August 1984.[1]