Saltford Manor House
Encyclopedia
The Saltford Manor House is a stone house in Saltford
, Somerset
, near Bath, that is thought to be the oldest continuously occupied private house in England, and has been designated as a Grade II* listed building.
In 2003, Saltford Manor House was the winner of a contest sponsored by Country Life
to find the "oldest continuously inhabited house in Britain". There were hundreds of entrants, many eliminated because they had been built as ecclesiastical buildings and only become available in the housing market after Henry VIII
dissolved the monasteries
. Other very old dwellings were eliminated because they are now used as shops or museums.
The original Norman
construction was by William Fitz Robert, 2nd Earl of Gloucester
, and was built on an estate owned at the time of the Domesday Book
by Geoffrey de Montbray
the Bishop of Coutances. It is contemporary with nearby Horton Court
which was a prebendary
house, therefore it is likely that Saltford had an association with Keynsham Abbey
, and has long been associated with St Mary's Church
.
In 2009, a non-fiction history book of the Manor was written by its resident, James Wynn (Grange Hill)
. It described his love for the site and how he restored it to its current beauty in 1997.
believes the house has details, particularly in the ornate windows, which date it securely to before 1150, and probably to around 1148, the completion date of Hereford Cathedral
, which has some similarities, notably a Norman arch etched with diamond markings that are similar to features in the Cathedral.
Nikolaus Pevsner
points to the rare survival of a fragment of a medieval painting as an important feature of the house. Other historically significant details include a Norman window in the main bedroom, a 17th century kitchen, and an "imposing" Tudor
fireplace in the sitting room.
Architectural historian Anthony Emery believes that the house originally consisted of a large single room on each floor with a vaulted chamber on the ground floor.
Major remodelling was carried out in the 17th century being undertaken during the ownership of two generations of the Flower family. The dovecote
next to the barn in the grounds dates from this period.
The badly deteriorated interior was completely refurbished in the 1990s by owners James and Anna Wynn.
Saltford
Saltford is a large village and civil parish in the Bath and North East Somerset unitary authority, Somerset, England. It lies between the cities of Bristol and Bath....
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, near Bath, that is thought to be the oldest continuously occupied private house in England, and has been designated as a Grade II* listed building.
In 2003, Saltford Manor House was the winner of a contest sponsored by Country Life
Country Life (magazine)
Country Life is a British weekly magazine, based in London at 110 Southwark Street, and owned by IPC Media, a Time Warner subsidiary.- Topics :The magazine covers the pleasures and joys of rural life, as well as the concerns of rural people...
to find the "oldest continuously inhabited house in Britain". There were hundreds of entrants, many eliminated because they had been built as ecclesiastical buildings and only become available in the housing market after Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
dissolved the monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
. Other very old dwellings were eliminated because they are now used as shops or museums.
The original Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
construction was by William Fitz Robert, 2nd Earl of Gloucester
William Fitz Robert, 2nd Earl of Gloucester
William Fitz Robert, 2nd Earl of Gloucester was the son and heir of Sir Robert de Caen, 1st Earl of Gloucester, and Mabel FitzHamon of Gloucester, daughter of Robert Fitzhamon.- Lineage :...
, and was built on an estate owned at the time of the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
by Geoffrey de Montbray
Geoffrey de Montbray
Geoffrey de Montbray , bishop of Coutances , a right-hand man of William the Conqueror, was a type of the great feudal prelate, warrior and administrator at need....
the Bishop of Coutances. It is contemporary with nearby Horton Court
Horton Court
Horton Court is a stone-built manor house situated in Horton, near Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire, England. The building has been a National Trust property since 1949....
which was a prebendary
Prebendary
A prebendary is a post connected to an Anglican or Catholic cathedral or collegiate church and is a type of canon. Prebendaries have a role in the administration of the cathedral...
house, therefore it is likely that Saltford had an association with Keynsham Abbey
Keynsham Abbey
Keynsham Abbey in Keynsham, Somerset, England was founded by William, Earl of Gloucester for the Augustinian Canons Regular around 1170 and survived until 1539...
, and has long been associated with St Mary's Church
St Mary's Church, Saltford
St Mary's Church is an Anglican parish church in Saltford, Somerset, England. It dates from the 12th century or earlier and has been designated as a Grade II listed building.-History:...
.
In 2009, a non-fiction history book of the Manor was written by its resident, James Wynn (Grange Hill)
James Wynn (Grange Hill)
James Wynn is a British actor, author and film maker who currently works for HTB Church in London. He is best known for his role as Mr. 'Sooty' Sutcliffe on the British TV drama Grange Hill. After leaving the programme in 1983, he went on to work on Comic Relief, Jim'll Fix It and Songs of Praise...
. It described his love for the site and how he restored it to its current beauty in 1997.
Architecture
Architectural historian John GoodallJohn Goodall
John Goodall was a footballer who rose to fame as a centre-forward for England and for Preston North End at the time of the development of the Football League, and also became Watford's first manager in 1903...
believes the house has details, particularly in the ornate windows, which date it securely to before 1150, and probably to around 1148, the completion date of Hereford Cathedral
Hereford Cathedral
The current Hereford Cathedral, located at Hereford in England, dates from 1079. Its most famous treasure is Mappa Mundi, a mediæval map of the world dating from the 13th century. The cathedral is a Grade I listed building.-Origins:...
, which has some similarities, notably a Norman arch etched with diamond markings that are similar to features in the Cathedral.
Nikolaus Pevsner
Nikolaus Pevsner
Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner, CBE, FBA was a German-born British scholar of history of art and, especially, of history of architecture...
points to the rare survival of a fragment of a medieval painting as an important feature of the house. Other historically significant details include a Norman window in the main bedroom, a 17th century kitchen, and an "imposing" Tudor
Tudor style architecture
The Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period and even beyond, for conservative college patrons...
fireplace in the sitting room.
Architectural historian Anthony Emery believes that the house originally consisted of a large single room on each floor with a vaulted chamber on the ground floor.
Major remodelling was carried out in the 17th century being undertaken during the ownership of two generations of the Flower family. The dovecote
Dovecote
A dovecote or dovecot is a structure intended to house pigeons or doves. Dovecotes may be square or circular free-standing structures or built into the end of a house or barn. They generally contain pigeonholes for the birds to nest. Pigeons and doves were an important food source historically in...
next to the barn in the grounds dates from this period.
The badly deteriorated interior was completely refurbished in the 1990s by owners James and Anna Wynn.