Listed Building record MDO27767 - Chantmarle, Cattistock

Fifteenth century Manor-House, with sixteenth century alterations. Main east range of house, dated "Emmanuel 1612" on porch keystone, by Joseph and Daniel Rowe of Hamdon for Sir John Strode.

The west wing was built in the second half of 15th century, when the property belonged to Cheverel. In the 16th century a separate block was erected to the south of the original. The property was bought by John Strode in 1604 and in 1612 the existing main block was built, in an E-shape, the wings extending to the east. The projection of the north wing and the whole of the south wing has been demolished, the site of the latter being occupied by a later building. <5>

Sir John Strode demolished most of the earlier building, except for the west wing, and stated that it had been enclosed by a moat, probably fed by the River Frome. <2>?Upton

Chantmarle, a manor house, at one time the property of the family of that name. In the time of Hen. III, "Robt. Chantmarle, de Chantmarle" occurs in a list of those holding lands"(a). The property passed by marriage to the Cheverels. The building by Sir John Strode was begun in 1619, but seems to have been not wholly completed internally. Adjoining the house on the S. side are the remains of a domestic chapel of 17thc. date., now used as a wood house. <3>

Similar information and in the earlier house the chapel - confirmed and approved by Bp. of Bristol 20 May 1544 - was inconveniently placed. In the new building [i.e. 1612] it is set apart from the house 'upon the right hand coming to the house'. It was consecrated 14. Sept. 1619. <1>

[Similar information] <4>

The house is still known as Chantmarle; it is now used as a Police Training Centre. <6.1>
The 15thc and c. 17thc. parts of Chantmarle are shewn in the photo-plan above, and are in a good state of preservation. Large modern additions in similar styles have been erected N. and S. of the early work. The site of the domestic chapel could not be ascertained during field investigation. In this connexion the alleged site given in Auth 2 cannot be reconciled with Hutchins' site (Auth 3).
The former authority has wrongly applied the consecration date of the chapel, 1619, to the house. <6>

No change. Chantmarle is an outstanding house. <7>

Sir John Strode demolished most of the earlier building, except for the west wing, and stated that it had been enclosed by a moat, probably fed by the River Frome. <8>

Chantmarle is as described and in use as a police college. Circa 30m east of the ornamental pond in front (east) of the house is a furtherpond, embanked on its east side now heavily overgrown. Whilst this may be a further feature of the original garden layout, the possibility exists that it was originally a fish pond. Possibly associated with earlier houses on the site. <9>

<1> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1870, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 4, 5-6 (Monograph). SDO17392.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1903 (Map). SWX1540.

[ST 58920218] CHANTMARLE (A.D. 1612) [T.I.]

<3> Heath, S, and Prideaux, W, 1907, Some Dorset Manor Houses, 55-64 (Monograph). SDO17596.

<3.1> Risdon, Tristram, Notebook of Tristram Risdon 1608-1628 (Monograph). SDO18810.

<4> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1932, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1931, 18 (Serial). SDO35.

<5> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 71 (Monograph). SDO97.

‘(2) CHANTMARLE, house (Plates 97, 98) nearly 1¾ m. N. of the church, is of two storeys with attics; the walls are of stone and the roofs are covered with stone slates. The existing W. wing of the house was built in the second half of the 15th century when the property belonged to the Cheverel family. In the 16th century a separate building was erected a short distance to the S. of the original block. The house was bought by John Strode in 1604 and about 1612 the existing main block of the house was built. It was originally of E-shaped plan with the wings extending towards the E., but the projecting part of the N. wing has been demolished and the S. wing, extending up to the separate 16th-century building, entirely demolished. Strode's account-book of the building refers to Gabriel Moore as surveyor "to survey and direct the building to the forme I conceived and plotted it". The stone came from the "Hambdon and Whetly" quarries. There are traces of an added wing on the N. side of the main block and a former W. porch to the hall has been removed in recent times. For a time it was a farm-house, but about 1910 extensive additions were made including the staircase-hall on the site of the former S. wing, a large wing adjoining the N.W. angle of the house and an extension of the 16th-century building.
The E. Front has a central three-storeyed porch (Plate 97); the outer entrance has a round arch in a square, moulded, outer head, with roundels in the spandrels, moulded imposts and a key-block inscribed "Emmanuel 1612"; flanking the entrance are semi-circular niches with round shell-heads. The second stage has a half-round oriel-window resting on deep moulded corbelling and having four four-centred and transomed lights. The third storey has a window of three four-centred lights with a label; above it is a round panel. In the S. wall of the porch is a window of two four-centred and transomed lights at the first-floor level. The main front has, on either side of the porch, a group of three windows on each floor, the middle one of four and the side ones of two four-centred and transomed lights. The N. bay of the front is probably of the 18th century and was erected after the destruction of part of the N. wing; the front wall incorporates two reset four-light windows similar to those in the main front. The N. wall of the E. or front block has traces of a former gabled building adjoining it on the N.; in this wall are some 15th or early 16th-century windows reset; one of these is of two ogee-headed lights with plain vertical tracery in a square head. The site of the former S. wing is occupied by a later building; ruins of the old wing are shown in a Buckler sketch of 1828 and indicate that the end of the wing had a semi-circular bay-window. The W. front (Plate 98) of the main block has a chimney-stack and a projecting staircase-wing; in the main wall the windows are of two and three four-centred and transomed lights; the doorway has moulded jambs and four-centred head with carved paterae and spandrels of foliage-ornament; the doorway was formerly covered by a porch, now removed. The staircase-wing has two-light windows, one of which is modern. The original 15th-century W. wing has windows with four-centred lights, moulded reveals and labels; most of these have been altered or restored. The S. wall is faced with bands of flint and ashlar. The 16th-century S. wing retains some original windows with four centred lights.
Inside the building, the Hall is entered by a doorway with moulded jambs and four-centred arch in a square head; the door is panelled and nail-studded. The screen is made up of 16th and 17th-century material, including linen-fold panels in the middle door. The fireplace in the W. wall has moulded jambs and four-centred arch in a square head; the surround and overmantel are made up of 17th-century materials, one portion bearing the initials and date M.H. 1618; the fireplace in the S. wall has moulded jambs and four-centred head. The Dining Room is entered by a doorway with a four-centred arch in a square head; the doorway to the staircase has a two-centred head. The Drawing Room is entered by two doorways with four-centred heads. In the S.W. angle is a 17th-century panelled enclosure (Plate 51) made up with modern work; it has an enriched entablature; the door has an enriched and arcaded upper panel and the return sides have each an open panel of two arched bays. The first floor of the E. block has a 17th-century doorway, fireplace and some panelled doors; the fireplace has an overmantel made up of 17th-century materials. The W. wing has, in the Library, an original ceiling divided into panels by moulded beams; this room was formerly the chapel and in the S. wall is a 15th-century piscina with a trefoiled head and round drain; the E. window, now opening into the Dining Room, is of four trefoiled lights in a square head. On the first floor is a second room with original moulded ceiling-beams. The modern staircase-hall, on the site of the former S. wing, has a reset 17th-century fireplace with moulded jambs and four-centred head.’

<6> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 13-MAY-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<6.1> Evans, D, Oral: Mr D Evans, Secretary, No 7 Police Training Centre Chantmarle, 11.5.55 (Verbal communication). SDO18809.

<7> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F2 NVQ 17-NOV-71 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<8> Upton, K L, 1978, The Moated Sites of Dorset, 6 (Unpublished document). SDO14051.

<9> Field Investigators Comments MCC, F3 MCC 17-FEB-87 (Unpublished document). SDO16335.

<10> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB44/00937 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of Chantmarle from the east

<11> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB44/00938 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of the main entrance to Chantmarle from the east

<12> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB44/00939 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of Chantmarle's east porch from the north-east

<13> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB81/02160 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of Chantmarle's east porch from the south-east

<14> Historic England, Historic England Archive, CC70/00365 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of Chantmarle from the south-west. This negative was accessioned on 1st December 1970.

<15> Historic England, Historic England Archive, CC70/00368 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of Chantmarle's east porch from the south-east. This negative was accessioned on 1st December 1970.

<16> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24497 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of Chantmarle from the south-west. This print was received by the National Buildings Record on 28th November 1952.

<17> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24498 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of Chantmarle from the east

<18> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24499 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of the main entrance to Chantmarle from the east

<19> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24500 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of Chantmarle's east porch from the south-east

<20> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24501 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of Chantmarle's east porch from the north-east

<21> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OS55/F133/4 (Index). SDO14738.

CHANTMARLE HOUSE AT CATTISTOCK. 15TH CENT. WING FROM SW.

<22> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OS55/F133/5 (Index). SDO14738.

CHANTMARLE HOUSE AT CATTISTOCK. MAIN BLOCK (C.1612) FROM SE.

<23> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OS55/F76/4 (Index). SDO14738.

PLAN OF CHANTMARLE MANOR AT CATTISTOCK

<24> National Record of the Historic Environment, 195845 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 16 2022 3:40PM