Jump to content

User:EricPolymath/Fitznells Manor

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fitznells Manor

Fitznells is the last surviving manor house in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, UK. It is a Grade 2 listed building. [1]

Photograph of the house
Fitznells Manor - July 2009
Photograph of the house
Fitznells Manor rear elevation - July 2009
Plan of the house
Plan of Fitznells Manor


Development of the House

[edit]

The property is named after Sir Robert Fitz-Neil whose family held the estate until 1386 but the oldest part of the current building dates back to the house probably built by Sir John Iwardeby in the early 16th century. He built a traditional timber framed hall house and it is the solar wing of this that survives. [2]

Iwardeby's original house was probably similar to the “Bayleaf” farmhouse at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum

Diagram showing development of house
Fitznells Manor - Early Sixteenth Century
Diagram showing development of house
Fitznells Manor - Mid Sixteenth Century
Diagram showing development of house
Fitznells Manor - Early Seventeenth Century

In the early seventeenth century with the rest of the original house either demolished or otherwise destroyed this remaining wing was extended to the west by the addition of a structure with the three distinctive gables. [2]

Diagram showing development of house
Fitznells Manor - Late Eighteenth Century
Diagram showing development of house
Fitznells Manor - Early Nineteenth Century
Diagram showing development of house
Fitznells Manor - Mid Nineteenth Century

In the late eighteenth century a large single storey kitchen area was added to the north elevation including the large chimney. During the nineteenth century further single storey extensions were added to the north and a large two storey extension to the south with a veranda. [2]

Ownership in the 20th Century

[edit]

Fitznells continued to function as a farmhouse well into the 20th century and when bought by S.E.Parkes (Modern Homes & Estates) in 1927 from the Gadesden family the estate still included 125 acres of land, farm buildings and five cottages. [2]

In 1930 William Batho purchased the house and its immediate grounds. [2] During the Second World War the house was requisitioned for use as a clothing exchange.

The Surrey Music School occupied the house after the war but this closed in the 1950s. In 1959 the house was bought by Anthony Carter and Vivienne Price who ran the Fitznells School of Music on the ground floor while living in the first floor.

In 1988 the house was bought by Conifercourt Holdings Ltd for use as their head office and the renovation works they undertook transformed the building to its current appearance.

The house is currently used as a doctor’s surgery.

Restoration

[edit]

The renovation works carried out in 1988 included

  • Removal of the render concealing the timber frame of the seventeenth century front to the house
  • Replacement of the Victorian entrance porch
  • Re-opening of the solar that had been sub-divided since the early 17th century[2].
  • Erection of a reproduction Victorian-style verandah to the rear elevation.
  • Replacement of a later sash window in the solar with an original-sized window

Additional buildings to the south of the main house were added on the site at this time.

Photograph of front elevation of house
Fitznells Manor front elevation - July 2009
Photograph of south elevation of house
Fitznells Manor south elevation - July 2009
Photograph of additional buildings
Fitznells Manor buildings added in 1988 - July 2009


References

[edit]
  1. ^ English Heritage, Listed Buildings Online. Available from: < http://lbonline.english-heritage.org.uk > [Accessed 17 January 2010]
  2. ^ a b c d e f EPS (1988) Survey report prepared for Conifercourt Ltd
[edit]