Listed Building: NEWTON MANOR (108194)

HIGH STREET 1. 5190 (north side) No 170 (Newton Manor) SZ 0278 4/68 26.6.52 II* GV 2. Originally a farmhouse. The main block, probably C18, the facade refaced C19. To the north of this, an old kitchen block appears C17 - possibly the surviving part of an earlier house. South of the main block a former outbuilding has been converted to a drawing room and extended to the rear - mid C19. At the rear (west) of the main block is a later C18 kitchen wing, with C19 extension linking it to a large C17 barn, converted to a dining room in C19. The house is built of Purbeck Stone, with Purbeck Stone roofs. For some centuries the house and estate belonged to the Cockram family. In c1876 it was bought by Sir John Charles Robinson, Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, who carried out considerable works. The main block has 3 storeys, and is faced with ashlar stone. It has a battlemented parapet, and stone chimney stacks with oversailing courses. The ground floor has an open stone portico, and 2 double- hung sash windows with diagonal glazing bars. The first and second floors each have 2 double-hung sash windows with diagonal glazing bars, and a central casement window. One dormer in the attic with hipped roof, and casement window. Over the outer doorway is the Coat of Arms of Sir Charles Robinson. In the porch are 2 Ionic columns, one surmounted by a stone dated 1673. The north block has been refaced in ashlar to match the main block. It is of 2 storeys and has a battlemented parapet. The ground floor has 3 windows, one originally mullioned, all now with casements. The south block, formerly an outbuilding, has one storey and attic. The roof is lead-covered and has a battlemented parapet. The ground floor now has a large mullioned window, and the attic has a half-dormer, also mullioned. The rear kitchen wing is of 2 storeys, with a stone slate roof, and has a double-hung sash window. The former barn has a stone slate roof with glazed timber lantern turret in the centre. There is a large stone mullioned oriel window in the former cart entrance. West of this barn is a lower structure of similar construction, originally a cottage (RCHM), but considerably reconstructed. Internally, the house has a number of features introduced by Sir Charles Robinson. The oak carved fireplace surround in the drawing room is of c1600, apparently brought from a house in Dorchester, and the room contains re-used panelling of similar date. In the entrance hall are re-used carved oak doors, probably Portuguese, of C17 date. The double doors leading to the barn (now dining room) are Spanish, of C17 date, representing a Litany of the Virgin. Other doors in the house, of C18 date, are from Lady St Mary Church, Wareham. The main staircase is Flemish, of C17 date, with carved balustrade and newels. The northern ground floor room of the main house has a carved fireplace surrounding, probably C17. The chimney piece in the barn (dining room) is Italian, of C15 date. On the landing, one of the windows has an inscription cut on the glass - "John Cockram, April 4, 1799 - very cold easterly wind". The rear wing of the house has a C18 fireplace in the first floor room. The ground floor of the C17 north block has rough chamfered ceiling beams and a large fireplace, now blocked. Re-set in a modern garden wall is a stone lettered "Newton Manor House" - probably late C18 - found in the stable block, and a C19 Coat of Arms of Princess Victoria, daughter of Queen Victoria. C19 cast iron pump, from London, in front garden. RCHM Monument 11. Listing NGR: SZ0204778934

Record last edited

Apr 14 2023 3:57PM