Listed Building record MDO45180 - Mapperton Manor

A manor house constructed 1550-60, possibly on the site of an earlier house. Alterations were carried out during the mid 17th century. It was remodelled during the 18th century and altered during the 20th century.

The manor of MAPPERTON is named in DOMESDAY. MAPPERTON was a manor, with that of COLTLY, but the tenants almost all died in the plague, 1666, and the tenements were pulled down. The family of BRETT possessed the manor very early, certainly in the reign of ED.I., and from that family it came to the MORGANS. <1>

There are traces of old foundations close to the house. [These may be those of the tenements and evidence of depopulation]. <2>

Similar information, and chimney piece and overmantel in drawing room, dated 1604, & with the arms of the PAVLETTS was brought from MELPLASH COURT. <5>

The house is two storeyed with ashlar faced rubble walls. It is said to have been rebuilt c.1550-60 by Robt. MORGAN and the N. wing is probably of that date. The property passed to BRODREPP in 1608 and the main block was built in the mid-17THC. A building of similar date to the S. is now joined to it by modern additions. In the N. wing changes were effected in the 18THC, when the N. front was also remodelled. There are various modern additions in the S. part of the house. The S., and probably the N. stables were built in 1670. PIGEON HOUSE: A rectangular stone structure with a datestone on the door lintel inscribed "R.B.1665". <6>

The house has very recently changed hands and there was no reliable authority for the present name. The housekeeper has promised to contact the new owner and inform this investigator of the correct name
Description in T2 correct. The buildings are all of stone and in a good state of preservation. The pigeon house is at A, the North Stable at B and the South Stable at C. The Church [See plan <6>] is still in use and the overall
impression of all buildings is one of weathered antiquity. <7>

Recorded information in T.2. points to there having been an earlier manor house on this site, 'though the date of the original could not be determined. Perambulation of adjacent area revealed no surface indications of depopulation as suggested by <6>. <8>

Known as:- MAPPERTON MANOR <8.1>

<1> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1863, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 2, 159-61 (Monograph). SWX1269.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1899, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club, 167-170 (Serial). SDO13.

<3> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1903 (Map). SWX1540.

[SY50359967] MANOR HOUSE [GT]

<4> Heath, S, and Prideaux, W, 1907, Some Dorset Manor Houses, 125-9 (Monograph). SDO17596.

<5> Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club, 1924, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club for 1923-1924, xlviii-xlix (Serial). SDO19135.

<6> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 154-6 (Monograph). SDO97.

<7> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 18-MAY-55 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<8> Colquhoun, F D, Field Investigators Comments FDC, FDC F2 24-05-55 (Unpublished document). SWX2609.

<8.1> Paige, A, Oral: Undated letter from A Paige (housekeeper), Mapperton (Verbal communication). SDO19136.

<9> Newman, J, and Pevsner, N, 1972, The Buildings of England: Dorset (Monograph). SWX1290.

<10> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/088 RCHME Inventory: Dorset I (West) and Revision (Unpublished document). SDO17367.

<11> National Record of the Historic Environment, 450754 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 3 2023 12:29PM