Listed Building record MDO10323 - Binghams Melcombe House, Melcombe Horsey

House, Gatehouse and hall, mainly of two storeys, forming an informal grouping around a court-yard. Probably originally early sixteenth century, but with additions and alterations attributable to the sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Walls are of rubble, banded flint and stone, ashlar and 'chequerboard' stone and flint, and gable ended roofs are of stone slate and tile, with a variety of ashlar and brick stacks.

Bingham's Melcombe was formerly a manor and hamlet. The manor was in early times the property of the Turbervilles but about the time of HEN III or ED I passed to the Binghams. The seat of the family is near the church <2>.

From 1250 until a few years ago the Binghams have continuously resided at the manor house without a break in the male succession. The Gatehouse is a small building with thick buttressed walls and the house is grouped about an inner courtyard. The whole is an excellent example of Tudor domestic architecture. <3>. <2-3>

The house is well preserved and is mainly constructed of dressed stone and flint courses though part of the house is of stone rubble. There are no modern extensions though the windows are largely mullioned 17th century type, Georgian and a few are fairly modern. The roof is of stone tiles. The Gatehouse has Georgian windows and wide sharply pointed arches with buttresses but the building is obviously pre-Georgian. There is a fine circular dovecote of stone rubble and a stone tiled roof with a very few modern tiles. It is still in use as a dovecote. Probably 16-17th century. <4> `I wish the house to be known as Bingham's Melcombe.' <5>

ST 771021. Bingham's Melcombe is built round three sides of an irregular courtyard, entered through a Gatehouse on the SE. In the 13th century Robert Bingham acquired the property by marriage with Lucy, the daughter and heiress of Sir Robert Turberville, and it remained in the Bingham family until 1895. The Gatehouse has been attributed to the 14th century on the evidence of the form and moulding of the main archways, but no other features equate with such dating, and the whole is more probably of the early 16th century. Though remodelled superficially in c.1730, it is the earliest complete surviving part of the house. Doubtless the Hall too was medieval, but only a fragment of walling possibly of this period survives; it was almost entirely remodelled in the mid-16th century. Bingham's Melcombe, largely informal in plan and elevation, forms an outstandingly picturesque group of buildings, which is given distinction by the mid-16th century architectural treatment of the hall oriel in the early Renaissance Italianate style. Full architectural description <7>.

A number of ancillary buildings etc. stand near the house, in the formal gardens and in the park to the S. The 18th-century Barn incorporating stabling, close NE., is of rubble and thatch. The Ice House, 20 yds. N., is an early 19th-century structure beneath an earth mound. Some 30 yds. NNW is a circular rubble-built Dovecote of the late 17th century, with a conical roof. At the end of the formal garden and 80 yds. WNW. is an 18th-century Summer House of brick with a slated roof. It is semi-circular in plan, with a wide open archway on the chord facing E. The building is incorporated in a brick Garden Wall dated 1748. At the entrance to the park, some 250 yds. S., is a late 18th-century Gateway. It is of fine Purbeck ashlar with rusticated piers with moulded bases and cornices, surmounted by the eagle crest of the Binghams. The ironwork of the gates is modern. Listed as "Most Worthy of Preservation" <6> <6-8>

ST 70 SE MELCOMBE HORSEY BINGHAM'S MELCOMBE 10/141 26-1-56 Bingham's Melcombe House GV I House, Gatehouse and hall probably of early 16th century origin. Other additions and alterations of the 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Plan: informal grouping around a courtyard; the north range contains the hall with an oriel flanked by two wings; the east part of the south range is formed by the gatehouse; connecting the gatehouse with the hall are a sequence of service and other rooms of various builds. Mainly of 2 storeys. <10>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1902 (Map). SWX1540.

(ST 77170215) Bingham's Melcombe House

<2> Hutchins, J, 1774, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. Volume 2. 1st edition (Monograph). SDO9551.

<3> Heath, S, and Prideaux, W, 1907, Some Dorset Manor Houses, 23-33 (Monograph). SDO17596.

<4> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 19-AUG-1955 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<5> 1955, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments: F Hopwood. 24-AUG-1955 (Verbal communication). SDO17597.

<7> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 1, 163-8 (Monograph). SDO146.

<8> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2, 278-81 (Monograph). SDO136.

<9> Ordnance Survey, 1:2500 scale, 1964 (Map). SWX1197.

(ST 77170215) Bingham's Melcombe (NR). (ST 77150220) Dovecot

<10> DOE (HRR), 1984, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: District of West Dorset amendment 1984, 52-54 (Scheduling record). SWX1372.

21-MAY-1984

<11> English Heritage, 1984-1987, Register of parks and gardens of special historic interest in England: Dorset (Monograph). SWX1383.

<12> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB55/02809 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of Bingham's Melcombe House from the south

<13> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB55/02811 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of Bingham's Melcombe House from the south

<14> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB55/02812 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of part of Bingham's Melcombe House from the east

<15> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB55/02814 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of the north-west corner of Bingham's Melcombe House, facing the courtyard

<16> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB55/02815 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of a courtyard-facing gable at Bingham's Melcombe House, decorated with the Bingham arms, from the south-east.

<17> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB55/02816 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of a courtyard-facing gable at Bingham's Melcombe House, decorated with the Bingham arms, from the west.

<18> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB55/02817 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of a courtyard-facing gable at Bingham's Melcombe House, decorated with the Bingham arms, from the south.

<19> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB55/02818 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of a courtyard-facing gable at Bingham's Melcombe House, decorated with the Bingham arms, from the south-east.

<20> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB55/02820 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of an open window at Bingham's Melcombe House

<21> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24587 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of a courtyard-facing gable at Bingham's Melcombe House, decorated with the Bingham arms, from the south-east: This print was received by the National Buildings Record on 17th May 1956

<22> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24588 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of Bingham's Melcombe House from the south: This print was received by the National Buildings Record on 4th January 1956.

<23> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24589 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of Bingham's Melcombe House from the south: This print was received by the National Buildings Record on 4th January 1956.

<24> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24589 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of Bingham's Melcombe House from the south: This print was received by the National Buildings Record on 4th January 1956.

<25> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24590 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of the north-west corner of Bingham's Melcombe House, facing the courtyard: This print was received by the National Buildings Record on 17th May 1956.

<26> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24591 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of part of Bingham's Melcombe House from the east: This print was received by the National Buildings Record on 17th May 1956.

<27> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24592 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of a courtyard-facing gable at Bingham's Melcombe House, decorated with the Bingham arms, from the south-east: This print was received by the National Buildings Record on 4th January 1956.

<28> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24593 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of a courtyard-facing gable at Bingham's Melcombe House, decorated with the Bingham arms, from the south: This print was received by the National Buildings Record on 4th January 1956.

<29> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24594 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of a courtyard-facing gable at Bingham's Melcombe House, decorated with the Bingham arms, from the west: This print was received by the National Buildings Record on 4th January 1956.

<30> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24595 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of an open window at Bingham's Melcombe House: This print was received by the National Buildings Record on 4th January 1956.

<31> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24596 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of a wall on the east side of Bingham's Melcombe House, from the south-east, showing alterations: This print was accessioned by the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments in England on 22nd December 1965.

<32> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24597 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of a wall on the east side of Bingham's Melcombe House, from the west, showing additions: This print was accessioned by the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments in England on 22nd December 1965.

<33> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24598 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of a wall on the east side of Bingham's Melcombe House, from the east, showing its building-up: This print was accessioned by the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments in England on 22nd December 1965.

<34> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24599 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of a wall on the east side of Bingham's Melcombe House, from the south-west, showing its building-up: This print was accessioned by the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments in England on 22nd December 1965.

<35> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24600 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of a wall on the east side of Bingham's Melcombe House, from the south-east, before alterations: This print was accessioned by the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments in England on 23rd April 1968.

<36> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24601 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of a wall on the east side of Bingham's Melcombe House, from the south-east, before alterations: This print was accessioned by the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments in England on 23rd April 1968.

<37> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OS55/F203/3 (Index). SDO14738.

BINGHAM'S MELCOMBE TUDOR HOUSE FROM NORTH EAST. GATEHOUSE IN FOREGROUND.

<38> Historic England, Historic England Archive, RCH01/096 (Index). SDO14738.

RCHME Inventory. Dorset III (Central): A large collection of archive relating to the RCHME Dorset Inventory Volume III, published in 1970. It contains field surveys and excavation archive. Parish files containing original surveys have been given child collection status.

<39> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AL0537 (Index). SDO14738.

Binghams Melcombe, Melcombe Horsey, Dorset. An album of four black-and-white prints taken in 1955 showing the house and gatehouse.

<40> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BF029853 (Index). SDO14738.

BINGHAM, MELCOMBE HORSEY

<41> National Record of the Historic Environment, 201830 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<42> National Record of the Historic Environment, 509906 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 2 2024 9:42AM