STOW HEATH MANOR HOUSE
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STOW HEATH MANOR HOUSE CIRCA A.D. 1460. TPHE Wars of the Roses would seem to mark the period of this ancient house, formerly the home of the De Mollesleys. Built by John de Mollesley who married the daughter and heiress of Edwin de Bilston. The site adjoining the heath of Stow was surrounded by thickly wooded country, here the oak was felled for its construction, and nearby the stone was quarried for its foundation walls and massive chimneys for open fireplaces measuring in one place as much as ten feet by five feet at the base, these with the walls were according to custom built first. Bilston was then one of the largest villages in the Midlands, rich in timber houses with many overhanging gables and some with octagon bays as at Moreton Old Hall, Cheshire. Its prosperity owed much to its
position on the Watling Street, the old Roman road from London to Holy head. The traditional form of plan for this house would appear to have been adopted, the main front facing nearly due south, its size was comparatively small and was divided broadly into three blocks, the west wing containing the principal living room and the east wing for kitchen and servants, these two wings being connected in the centre by the hall. A passage at the end leading to the main entrance door would give access to the staircase and upper rooms in addition to the two main floors. The small gable windows shew there were lofts in the roofs. Of the remains of this old house much has been written, the west wing is the only portion of the original building left, but the restoration has brought to light some hitherto unknown and very interesting features, foremost of these is the overhanging gable of the southwest angle, hidden for more than 120 years by some additions made when the house was converted into an Inn named The Greyhound and Punch-bowl. From some English and French coins discovered in the floors these would appear to confirm the period of George III. and Louis XVI. of France.
In the excavations part of the main wall of the centre hall space was exposed, the present new gable facing the High Street has been built in front of this, and occupies the site of the original recessed front of the old hall, this was known as the bibblefold (paved with pebbles) and used at a later date for cattle and pigs on market days. The construction of the main foundation walls when uncovered shewed the old method of damp proofing below ground, with banks of puddled clay on both sides as a precaution in low lying ground. It will be noticed the level of the High Street is some three feet above the original ground line which has been excavated and paved on the south and west sides, forming a sunk court and passage. The west front is now a complete example of timber framing, from a derelict building it has been renewed and is now well worthy of study. The oak trees for the main posts were only worked on the exposed faces with axed surfaces, the inside faces being left with the bark removed.
The construction of the south-west angle post is particularly interesting, it is all hand-worked with the natural shape of the wood retained. Here in the room on this corner of the first floor, where once was held the Court Leet, was a richly carved mantelpiece of the Sixteenth Century, with fine oak panelling. This beautiful example of the period has been refixed in a room on the ground floor known as the Ladies' Parlour. The panelling has original carved frieze panels of sunk strap-work. It is probable the main staircase of the house, of which nothing remains, was near the approach to this room. Below on the ground floor is the principal room of the house, adapted to present day requirements without losing its old-world appearance. Its chief glories are a splendid example of a plaster-worked ceiling, panelled walls mostly original and part removed from the room above, and a delicately carved mantelpiece shewing earlier type of panels with shaped arches. Of the ceiling with its mellow colouring of old age retained, it can be said this is the original, hand worked in situ and done by a master craftsman; it has been wrongly described Arabesque. The design is an all over pattern based on a vine stem which was first applied,
the leaves, fruit and birds being added afterwards.WThere can be no doubt this work is of the Tudor period, great care having been taken to preserve it intact. A portion of this ceiling now in the passage has been reproduced. No trace of the original stone fireplaces has been found, they have been replaced in the traditional style of the period. This worthy and extremely valuable piece of mediaeval work which now adorns the town is a lasting reminder of its historic associations.
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The work of restoring the old and carrying out the new additions has been well executed by the Staff of W. Butler & Co., Limited, under the direction of Mr. J. A. Swan, F.R.I.B.A.
STOW HEATH MANOR HOUSE CIRCA A.D. 1460. TPHE Wars of the Roses would seem to mark the period of this ancient house, formerly the home of the De Mollesleys. Built by John de Mollesley who married the daughter and heiress of Edwin de Bilston. The site adjoining the heath of Stow was surrounded by thickly wooded country, here the oak was felled for its construction, and nearby the stone was quarried for its foundation walls and massive chimneys for open fireplaces measuring in one place as much as ten feet by five feet at the base, these with the walls were according to custom built first. Bilston was then one of the largest villages in the Midlands, rich in timber houses with many overhanging gables and some with octagon bays as at Moreton Old Hall, Cheshire. Its prosperity owed much to its
position on the Watling Street, the old Roman road from London to Holy head. The traditional form of plan for this house would appear to have been adopted, the main front facing nearly due south, its size was comparatively small and was divided broadly into three blocks, the west wing containing the principal living room and the east wing for kitchen and servants, these two wings being connected in the centre by the hall. A passage at the end leading to the main entrance door would give access to the staircase and upper rooms in addition to the two main floors. The small gable windows shew there were lofts in the roofs. Of the remains of this old house much has been written, the west wing is the only portion of the original building left, but the restoration has brought to light some hitherto unknown and very interesting features, foremost of these is the overhanging gable of the southwest angle, hidden for more than 120 years by some additions made when the house was converted into an Inn named The Greyhound and Punch-bowl. From some English and French coins discovered in the floors these would appear to confirm the period of George III. and Louis XVI. of France.
In the excavations part of the main wall of the centre hall space was exposed, the present new gable facing the High Street has been built in front of this, and occupies the site of the original recessed front of the old hall, this was known as the bibblefold (paved with pebbles) and used at a later date for cattle and pigs on market days. The construction of the main foundation walls when uncovered shewed the old method of damp proofing below ground, with banks of puddled clay on both sides as a precaution in low lying ground. It will be noticed the level of the High Street is some three feet above the original ground line which has been excavated and paved on the south and west sides, forming a sunk court and passage. The west front is now a complete example of timber framing, from a derelict building it has been renewed and is now well worthy of study. The oak trees for the main posts were only worked on the exposed faces with axed surfaces, the inside faces being left with the bark removed.
The construction of the south-west angle post is particularly interesting, it is all hand-worked with the natural shape of the wood retained. Here in the room on this corner of the first floor, where once was held the Court Leet, was a richly carved mantelpiece of the Sixteenth Century, with fine oak panelling. This beautiful example of the period has been refixed in a room on the ground floor known as the Ladies' Parlour. The panelling has original carved frieze panels of sunk strap-work. It is probable the main staircase of the house, of which nothing remains, was near the approach to this room. Below on the ground floor is the principal room of the house, adapted to present day requirements without losing its old-world appearance. Its chief glories are a splendid example of a plaster-worked ceiling, panelled walls mostly original and part removed from the room above, and a delicately carved mantelpiece shewing earlier type of panels with shaped arches. Of the ceiling with its mellow colouring of old age retained, it can be said this is the original, hand worked in situ and done by a master craftsman; it has been wrongly described Arabesque. The design is an all over pattern based on a vine stem which was first applied,
the leaves, fruit and birds being added afterwards.WThere can be no doubt this work is of the Tudor period, great care having been taken to preserve it intact. A portion of this ceiling now in the passage has been reproduced. No trace of the original stone fireplaces has been found, they have been replaced in the traditional style of the period. This worthy and extremely valuable piece of mediaeval work which now adorns the town is a lasting reminder of its historic associations.
n
tH ^ .£*" ^
fL *
/f
./>'-
^
The work of restoring the old and carrying out the new additions has been well executed by the Staff of W. Butler & Co., Limited, under the direction of Mr. J. A. Swan, F.R.I.B.A.
